Notes From the Helm

This has got to be a dream, right?

How did Dianne and I get here? How are we living in the tropics of Florida near the shores of the Gulf of Mexico? How did we escape the grips of suburbia in Northeast Ohio? How did I go from driving a semi tractor trailer to captaining a beautiful sailboat on Gulf Waters and meeting incredible people along the way? Why didn't I get to the Dry Tortugas sooner? Why is there a palm tree just outside my window in the kitchen? So many questions and only a lifetime to figure them out. Its been a while since I've spilled my guts on this blog, but now I've got some time between charters and here goes.

Since taking over Magic Wind Adventure Sailing in 2009 and offering the best sailing charters in Fort Myers, time is flying by. Not the sorta time that you regret flying by, but the kinda time that flies by and messes your hair up...taking you along for the ride. I like it. Dianne likes it. We've made some new friends along the way. I met a great guy in Fort Myers named Doctor Henn who performed my microdiscectomy on my back and got me back to normal after 13 years behind the wheel of a truck. Thanks Doc! Dianne like it when I can walk with her in the store and not lay on the floor to stop the pain. Ha! There are some really great people here in Southwest Florida. We look forward to meeting more of you.

Lets talk sailing in Southwest Florida. Star of Orion is sailing awesome! She's been given some serious attention lately. A new main sail to start. What a difference! Full battens, big roach, heavy cruising cloth....hang on tight! An electric conversion for the halyard winch was installed to help raise the new, heavier sail. Fresh bottom paint. Yep, we hauled Star out in April and my good friend Captain Ron sanded her bottom and applied 2-3 coats of Sea Hawk Island 77 anti-fouling paint. I replaced 3 thru hull fittings, removed one, and replaced some sea cocks and hoses. Her hull even got waxed above the waterline. She fast, safe, and beautiful on the water. She likes it. Inside here hull, she got a new A/C unit from Marvair. The old one locked up after 10+ years. In the head, we installed a new electric toilet from Jabsco. Push the button and watch it all go away. Love that thing. 170 watts of solar panels were mounted to the rear bimini top to help power all these new goodies. Almost 10 amps back to the batteries in full sun. Not bad!

In May, we sailed with 4 other boats to the Dry Tortugas and Key West. We left on May 15th with one of the boats in the group as the other 3 left earlier. Once we were in open water around the sandbar, we experienced pretty good seas left over from the previous night of storms. 6-10 footers at times that were needless to say...confused! Dianne got a case of sea sickness that lasted the remaining 18 hours of the trip. Because of her unwillingness to give up and stick it out, I've got a new respect and love for her. She never once asked to turn back and I would have if she asked. She wanted this trip as much as I did. She is amazing. After 20 hours, we arrived at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. What a site! If you ever get a chance to get here, do it. The bluest, clearest water we've ever seen. The fort has an amazing history and so little people know if it. I feel blessed that I've gotten to experience this place and the surrounding waters. There are pictures on my facebook page that you need to see. The snorkeling was out of this world and the fort was fascinating.

After 2 days in the Dry Tortugas, we all set sail for Key West via the southern route south of the shoals and Marquesas Keys. Smooth, calm waters were in the forecast and were a welcome sight from the trip previous. South of Marquesas Key, we passed a Mel Fisher salvage boat. Mel Fisher was the man who found the wreck of the Atocha, a spanish galleon that sunk in the 1620's. After talking with a rep at the Mel Fisher Museum in Key West, I was told that is still the wreck of the Atocha they are working. Only about half of that wreck has been recovered. We sailed right over a 17th century spanish galleon wreck with endless treasure right under our keel! How cool is that. It was one of our highlights. Dianne and I now sport silver coins (replicas) made from the actual sunken treasure of the Atocha around our necks. A piece of history nearly 400 years old.

We arrived in Key West after just 10 hours. We docked at the Galleon Resort as usual in the heart of  Key West. Some highlights included Alex dancing at Irish Kevins, fresh caught Mahi Mahi on the charcoal grill, shopping with Dianne, drinks and live music at Schooner Wharf Bar, and of course Duval Street. Key West is a special place and when you arrive by sailboat after many miles and hours, its even more special. Don't know. You feel like you hold a secret, but its a secret not everyone can understand. 3 Days in Key West and it was time to head home.

We set sail for For Myers at about 11am. The Trip took us 20 hours again and was pretty uneventful. Lots of motor sailing as the winds were on our nose most of the trip. Again, Dianne impressed me. This whole trip she was more than my wife, but also a competent partner sailing with me. I look at her differently today and look forward to our next long sail together.

On all the legs of this trip, there is alot of time to think. Lots of dark, star filled evenings. Dianne is usually asleep next to me and I'm wedged into a comfortable position that allow me to keep watch without using too much energy. In darkest of night, when you feel your most tired, your mind awakens. Like I've mentioned in prior blogs, you start thinking about all the people in your life both past and present. Its just you and them out there on the sea.  I smile at some thoughts, hold back tears on others. Its some real highs and lows, that believe it or not, feel like they just now found their exit and are escaping. We needed this. I needed this. If you ever really want to "get away", sail a boat well offshore in the middle of the night. You'll find a new religion...I promise.

As you can see, life is pretty darn good. Special moments are happening at a rapid fire pace. The sun is shining and the waters are warm. Sailing on the Gulf of Mexico is special. In a perfect world, I would have Dianne sailing with me everyday. But for now, she's got the real job with benefits. I will just have to keep sailing and sharing these moments with my guests. Not a bad gig!

Fair Winds,

Capt. Dan Mendat

www.sailmagicwind.com

Half Day Sails, Sunset Cruises, Overnight Charters

 

 

 

 

If I had a million dollars......

It's just after midnight and my thoughts about today kept my brain racing so I had to sit down at the computer and type another blog. Today was like any other day.....

Dianne and I took a little road trip today to visit Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda and then on to meet up with Captain Ron at Charlotte Harbor Boat Storage where he is working on a vessel. The day was sunny, warm, and as usual...beautiful. Charlotte Harbor Boat Storage is a boat yard in a very obscure place on the north end of Charlotte Harbor. Its the type of boat yard that allows you to store and work on your boat without all the rules and "stuffiness" of other boat yards. Star of Orion has spent some time there. They allow you to work on your dream. And boy...there were alot of dreams there today.

The boat yard was overstuffed with sailboats and some powerboats. As we drove through, I couldn't believe it. It was like a buffet of boats. Never before did I ever see so many boats on the "hard" as we say. They were lined up like soldiers in formation. Perfectly placed, but not able to move. I noticed alot of "For Sale" signs. What was going on here? Was there some sort of sailboat flu outbreak?

We found where Ron was working on "Last Chance". "Last Chance" is a classic 40 footer undergoing alot of work in preparation for a trip all the way to Jamaica where it will then be loaded on a ship and taken to South America. Captain Ron will be skippering it from Florida to Jamaica with a stop in Cuba. Ron's on the final lap of the preparation and will be departing in the next month or so.

I asked Ron why there were so many boats in the yard. "The economy" he said. "Marinas are getting too expensive also". It seems unbelievable to me that so many boats are there. Sailing is just far to important to me and I always assume that most others feel the same way. Let's be honest. A boat is much more than just a vehicle for the water. Those boats sitting there were someone's dream. Their escape from reality. Their passion. Their expression. Their ability to connect. How did this happen? I felt like I was witnessing slow death.

Just then, as we were talking with Ron, an older gentleman popped up from the cabin of a beautiful 40 foot sailboat next to us. Like many of the boats in the yard it needed quite a bit of work to make it seaworthy again. The man's frustration was very apparent on his face and in his movements. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. I didn't know a damn thing about him or his boat. He could have just been having a bad day. I do know this though...he wanted the work and the frustration to be over. He wanted that boat in the water. The sails raised and the shoreline disappearing. He wanted to stop dreaming.

Everyone has friends and family members who are in a bad spot right now. Sometimes the thing that keeps them going is their dream. The thing or place that will make them the happiest. You wish you could wave a magic wand over them, make it all better, and make that dream come true. It's strange how that visit to the boat yard affected me. It looked like a storage facility of dreams.

If I had a million dollars, I'd empty that facility.

Fair Winds,

Capt Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com

 

Beautiful Swimmers.....

What a great song by Jimmy Buffet. "Beautiful Swimmers". Every time I hear that song aboard Star of Orion, I reach a Zen-like state. My eyes open wide and become very observant of some beautiful things happening around me. Join me....

Walk down the dock with me at the Marina. Its early in the day. The sun is fresh and the air is thick with anticipation. Each boat you pass as you walk down the dock has a story. A job to do. A dream to fulfill. They sit patiently tethered to their slips awaiting their moment. The sound of the marina preparing for the day is in the background, but is filtered out by your expectations. As you look at the vessels, all awaiting their orders, its awe inspiring.

The marine birds are already there. Still scared of your intentions after all this time, they move out of your way. You walk a little farther, your attention drawn to a small barge being pushed along by the smallest of tug boats. You wonder what they are up to today and how cool it would be to be a part of it.  A few more steps and you're there. Star of Orion sits quietly in her slip. You take a moment to stare at her lines. The anticipation builds.

Its your lucky day. A small dolphin greets you with a blast of air as it comes to the surface right at the edge of the dock. You step aboard Star with a smile ear to ear. "Thanks buddy" you say to yourself. In your mind, your putting the list together of things to do and checking off each as you prepare to pull Star away from the dock. You do your best to hold back the excitement, it can make you forget things.

Backing out of the slip, you think about your little dolphin buddy. You know he is a better seaman than you, but you still look out for him as you put the engine in reverse. All clear. As you turn out of the marina and into the channel, there is a feeling that overcomes you that cannot be clearly described. You feel like you just got a fresh start, your troubles  back at the dock. That first gentle gust of sea air hits your face and fills your lungs. You're already formulating excuses why not to come back. You feel alive.

Once out in the Gulf of Mexico, you prepare to raise the sails. Some call it the "laundry". Not Star, she's a lady and "laundry"  just doesn't fit. You turn into the wind and begin turning the winch. The main sail rises from its storage bag as you keep the lazy jack lines from fouling the battens. All clear. You watch for the black mark on the halyard to reach the point near the jam cleat to tell you "sails up". You turn the boat 30 degrees off the wind and watch the wind fill the main sail. Its beginning. You back off the throttle of the dependable little diesel engine and start to notice the boat healing. You're already sailing. Engine off, you roll out the jib all the way and winch her in tight. Star is now healing over more. Her speed is increasing. To quote Jimmy, she's "sliding across the water like a steel guitar". Destination? Doesn't even matter.

As you sit back, relaxing and taking in all you've accomplished, you start looking around. There are other boats out here. Your not alone. You notice alot of them aren't sailboats. They seem so different all of a sudden. As you glide along in beautiful silence, powered only by the winds, you feel like Poseidon himself has put you here. You feel like you've been given the knowledge that only a few have been given. You feel like you know something that the other mariners don't. You start to feel that sailboats are the guardians of the sea....like mermaids, beautiful and watchful of others. You're in heaven.

This is my job.

Fair Winds,

Captain Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My name is Forrest, Forrest Gump

What is it about that damn movie Forrest Gump that motivates and inspires people? I watched it just the other night and it motivated me to type up a long overdue blog entry. Why didn't I type one up sooner? In your best Forrest Gump voice say "I was Sailing!".

I've been a busy sailor since my last entry. January and February were a little slow but March came in strong and April blew me away. April was so busy I almost forgot to stop and look around where I was. I'm working hard on developing the life style know as 'Island Time'. "Its a household name"-Forrest Gump voice. Island Time affords you the right to throw on shorts in the morning and your favorite flip flops and head out into the world with the sun on your face and a smile between your ears. Years go back on instead of coming off. I feel alive.

Thank you to all who have sailed with me in recent months. I have met some amazing people with some amazing stories. I've been able to spread my love of sailing to so many. It never gets old when you have someone new to sailing, who wants so badly to gain every bit of knowledge they can from you. Thank You. I've enjoyed it as much as you. Sailing on the Gulf of Mexico is amazing.

 I've sailed farther than before and to new destinations. I've seen such a variety of weather and seas. I've seen so many new things. Stingrays, turtles, dolphins, sharks, jelly fish to name a few. I've made many new friends. Marina life is awesome.

Most recently, we just returned from a 5 day trip to Key West (130 miles one way) aboard Star of Orion. On May 9 we departed at 10am and headed due south for Key West. We sailed straight through the night and arrived at the Galleon Marina and Resort in 24 hours. It was a two boat flotilla. Capt Paul, his wife Pat, and good friend Alex were aboard Panacea for the trip down.  Dianne and I had another good friend of Paul and Pat's...Freddie. Freddie is what everyone needs in life. A person who can stand perfectly still, with no expression and make you laugh your ass off. Thank you for the awesome time Freddie. We departed Key West on Thursday May 13 at 9am and arrived back to Fort Myers after only 18 hours thanks to the 17-25 mph east winds. Seas were anywhere from 3-8 feet at times. We almost collided with each other twice in the first night, but I'll only say one word....Freddie. Amazing sail and Star of Orion shined. Dianne is now a true believer in the cruising lifestyle and looks forward to the next adventure.

Sailing at night is interesting. You are out of sight of land and the lights from the cities. Only the stars and the moon give you light enough to see around you. You have lots of time (when you're on watch) to contemplate life. Your mind wonders and you find yourself in a special place. My special place found me with the people of the past and of the present. I've always known that I am who I am today because of all the people in my life, both past and present. It may sound weird, but all of these people were with me there at the helm those nights. My late brother Bob was there...with a fishing pole and a tall drink. My late Uncle Mike was there, smiling and laughing with that infectious laugh he had when he just heard or told a dirty joke. My late grandfather was there eating Braunsweiger with a beer, tapping the barometer to see if any weather was on the horizon. My late grandmother was there ready to wipe my dirty face with a spit covered tissue, all the while scheming her next practical joke to play on us. My friends were there, and all the memories we have together. My father, who so badly wanted to do this trip with us, was there telling me stories of his days at sea while in the Navy. You were all there. Thanks for the company.

What's next? More sailing chartersI hope. May is looking good. I've got two overnight charters booked and a third in June. My parents are talking of coming down again in June/July to visit. Dianne and I are still enjoying the heck out of living here in Fort Myers. We're really looking forward to July 4th on the water. Allthough I could sell that date out, it's gonna be a personal sail. The weather is getting warm as is the sea. Sea life is popping up everywhere and the Gulf of Mexico is amazing. Lets keep our fingers crossed that this oil spill is fixed quickly with as little impact to nature as possible. Sailing on the Gulf of Mexico will continue. I'm not going anywhere.

Always remember:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

Lets Go Sailing!

Capt Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com

 

 

 

 

The Love Boat

Congratulations to the newly engaged couple Sarah and David pictured here on the bow of Star of Orion.

Its was Valentines Day and David had prearranged for a private 1/2 day cruise so he could propose to his girl. He brought along his sister to secretly help take pictures and smuggle champagne aboard for a toast if all went well.  Here at Magic Wind Adventure Sailing, we make it happen!

We left the dock around 11am and headed out Matanzas Pass to the Gulf of Mexico. After seeing the wind direction was in my favor, I turned the boat towards Sanibel Island and the lighthouse. Little did I know that the CD I play all the time aboard the boat had their song on it which immediately set the mood. Apparently Sarah did not notice the very large, square shaped object protruding through David's pants.

As we got closer to the lighthouse, Sarah and David made their way to the bow of the boat. Since David's sister and I had the best view from the back of the boat, we watched the action unfold right before our eyes. It was funny when we watched David prepare to get on one knee and Sarah didn't have any idea and just turned around and sat down on the bow. I could see David was struggling a little bit to get the party started, so I ran below and put their song on again so they could hear it up on the bow. Seconds later, they were engaged! Congrats!

 As with all special occasions, I ran below and grabbed the Conch shell. I gave the newly engaged couple the best blast of the shell I could muster up.  I then marked the spot on my GPS unit with their name so that if they come back sailing with me I can take them back to the exact spot they got engaged.

Always something exciting happening here in Southwest Florida. Sailing on the Gulf of Mexico had never been more romantic.

Here's to a long life together Sarah and David!

Fair Winds and Following Seas,

Capt Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com

Wildcats take over Marco Island

Another blog update from the helm of Star of Orion. It's been a few weeks since I've updated this and I've got a good reason to type one.

Sailing charters in Fort Myers are doing great. Neither the economy nor the weather is going to stop folks looking for adventure from booking a sailboat ride with me. Here is a picture of such a group dedicated to experiencing a sailboat charter in the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

  These  sailors pictured here are from an inland lake in Kentucky who booked my Marco Island 2 day/1 night sailing charter. Even though the weather was chilly for Florida with highs in the low 60's, they came fully prepared (1 ton of baggage per couple Ha!) for the trip. Even before they arrived to the boat, I had it all provisioned as per the approved liquor and food list.  I do have to thank my wife Dianne for helping me prep the boat for the charter and baking brownies for the hot fudge brownie sundae dessert I served after dinner that night.

After coffee, juice, muffins, and yogurt for breakfast, we departed the dock of Salty Sam's Marina around 8:30 am. The forecast called for a North Northwest wind at 15-20 knots. After passing Bowditch Point at the north end of Fort Myers Beach, we saw that the wind was going to be perfect for a downwind run to Marco Island, 40 miles away. We set the sails, we pointed the bow to about 160 degrees, and began our long open water journey to Marco Island. Our scheduled arrival time to Marco River Marina was before 6pm. I prearranged to have a slip at the marina for the night since the weather was calling for 40 degree temps during the night. We needed heat. Plus after a long adventure like this, a stroll down the dock to a restaurant is always a welcome treat.

I immediately realized that I had some great people on-board. First, they had their sea legs. That's important on long ride like this. Second, they immediately made me feel comfortable by including me in on their amazing stories and humor. But let me tell you...some stories told by the one gentleman (lets call him "Panther") downright made me scared. It seems as though every sailing adventure he's been on, he somehow broke or damaged the boat. Even though him and his wife had new sailing coats, I still kept an eye on him. Ha! The other gentleman (lets call him "PintleHead") and his wife, stayed pretty quiet on this leg of the journey and at one point went below to sleep. Its the quiet ones you need to worry about. LOL.

As the day went on and the miles clicked away, the seas began to build as we passed Naples and then as we came upon Marco Island. During the dodging of crab pots, I happened to notice the 6-8 foot seas we were riding on were building even more as we approached the shallow waters near the entrance to Marco Island. At one point during our approach to the channel, I looked back only to sea a wall of water. In the bottom of the wave troughs, the wave tops were above the top of our cabin. These were ocean waves and they didn't have any breaking water so we were able to just have fun surfing them. I wished I would have snapped a picture, but in those conditions I needed to keep my hands on the wheel.

Although "Pintlehead" was still below sleeping, the rest of the crew helped me navigate the extremely shallow entrance to Marco Island after about 9 hours at sea. As we passed markers 2,4, and 6, we approached the center channel marker where we then turned to starboard as per our map. Then we were to look for number 9 and turn to port. Guess what, number 9 was gone! Number 9 channel marker is a crucial marker as it lets you avoid running aground on a shallow sandbar. With number 9 missing, we guesstimated where to turn and headed for number 11. The shallow water alarm began buzzing but luckily we kept just enough water under our keel to make it to the wider, deeper channel. Later we found out that number 9 marker had broken free and was 300 yard from where it was supposed to be.

After docking at Marco River Marina for the night, we all stepped ashore and headed to "Porky's Last Stand" BBQ restaurant that was within walking distance. What a treat it was for my guests to eat at a restaurant who's salad bar was a farm tractor manure slinger! I got the steak sandwich and stayed far away from the salad bar! After eating, I left a little early to prepare the boat for the night. Once they arrived and settled in, I made warm brownies with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. "Panther" licked his bowl clean. Ha!

After a good night of sleep, I prepared my special "eggcake" breakfast for my guests. I think they loved my cooking since they took the leftovers from breakfast home with them!  We checked the tides, wind, and weather and pushed off the dock around 9am. Again the winds were out of the North Northwest, which in this direction were right on our nose. After about 7 hours of tacking and maintaining good speed, we still fired up the motor for the last leg of the trip so we could arrive back to Fort Myers at a decent time (9:30pm). If there is one thing that we all know from this trip, Naples is very longggggggggg! Every time we checked the GPS, we were still sailing offshore of Naples.  Nevertheless, tacking back and forth along Naples and experimenting with sail trim was alot of fun for both me and the crew. We had 20 knot winds most of the way back and good seas (3-4 footers). Again, I was impressed by my Kentucky sailors.

Today I received an email from "Panther" thanking me for the experience. I emailed back, thanking them. I really enjoyed their company and their love of sailing and adventure. They had a true taste of what cruising on the Gulf of Mexico can be. They got to experience entering a strange port and pulling up to a new marina.  They got to see how sailing doesn't have to be stressful. They saw good winds and waves.They got salty. They lived.

I'd sail anytime, anywhere with this group. I hope our paths cross again soon.

Fair Winds,

Capt Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com

 

 

 

 

 

Every so often.....

Every so often, I get blown away by a group of people that go out sailing with me. A few days ago it happened again. Although every sail is special and the people are great, sometimes a group just stands out.

The day of this sail, the marine forecast for Fort Myers Beach was for a small craft advisory with winds blowing 20-25 knots and gusting higher at times. I had a morning half day sail scheduled at 11am but the party canceled after I told them of the conditions we would be sailing in. I understood their concerns and took the time to do some boat maintenance on Star of Orion while watching the weather for my sunset cruise with the group pictured here. Although I left a message with this group about the conditions, they did not receive the message and arrived at the dock ready to go sailing. Here's the best part..... When they arrived, I told them that the seas would be a little rough, the winds strong, the temp chilly, and the boat would lean. They looked at me and said "don't we need wind with a sailboat?". I immediately fell in love with the group. I fired up the engine, threw off the dock lines, and away we went out to the Gulf of Mexico.

I wish I knew more about these folks because I happen to think that they have some real pirate blood in them. With a double reef in the main sail and the jib rolled out half way, the boat still did 5-6 knots in 4-5 foot roller-waves while kicking up some salt spray. The thoughts of sea sickness for my guests began to creep in my head only to be removed by the question "When are we opening up the wine we brought?". Awesome!

Even this young lady pictured here couldn't stop talking about how much fun this was. After a few glasses of wine and some pirate talk (Ha!), she blew the conch shell with the power of 20 salty sailors. Impressive! The rest of the group also took turns at the conch shell with everyone doing an impressive job except one gentleman. Everyone laughed at his expense, but I saw the look in his eyes afterward....the look that tells me he's out buying a shell right now to practice for next time.By the way, this young lady was so cool that those sunglasses never came off even as we arrived to the dock in complete darkness. Pirates beware!

I'll never forget this sail with a group that surely is the life of any party they go to. Sailing the Gulf of Mexico never disappoints! Come back and see me soon. I still can't wipe the smile off my face.

Fair Winds,

Capt. Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com

 

Adventure Happens!!

Yep, That's Me! Half way up the mast, strapped to my top-climber boson's chair, tied to my spinnaker halyard, with a boat-hook in one hand, and my other hand holding on for dare life! Ha!! Magic Wind Adventure Sailing....for real!

You might ask, what going on here? Let me tell you a funny little story.......

 

So this really nice family pictured here comes sailing with me for a sunset cruise. We motor out to the Gulf, turn into the wind, and I begin to raise the main sail. The sail goes half way up and stops. I look up and find that my halyard has wrapped itself around my steaming light on the front of the mast. I lower the sail and unhook the halyard in order to try and "whip" the line loose from the steaming light. That doesn't work. I tie another line to the halyard with a big knot in order to try and "saw" the line loose from the light. It was actually starting to work...till my knot came loose and left the end of my halyard dangling half way up the mast! Now I really was sweating bullets.

So after a few minutes of sailing with the jib only, the oldest gentleman in the group suggested that if I had a boson's chair, they could hoist me up. Problem was, I only had a spinnaker halyard on the front of the mast that I knew nothing about. I didn't know if it was strong enough to hold my weight (245#s) and if the folks doing the winching were strong enough and aware enough of the concept of hoisting a person up a line using a boat winch. But in the spirit of adventure, I said "what the hell!". I strapped on my boson's chair, gave the folks in the cockpit the low down on winch usage, tied on the spinnaker halyard, and put my life in their hands.

Little did I know as they began winching me up the mast that action photography of my ordeal was being taken. Here's a pic of one of my guests winching with all his might trying to get my big arse up the mast while the rest of the family is pulling for dare life on the tail end of the rope. Ha! I honestly didn't know that so many good shots were being taken. Needless to say, I made it halfway up the mast and recovered the loose end of the halyard and made it back to earth safely. Laughs were had by all. I'll never forget this sail.

The other great couple on board (pictured here), I think they'll never forget this evening either! The look of shock is priceless!

Later that night I called Capt Ron to tell him about the events of the evening. He paused...then told me "you went up on that line?". "That line is held at the top of the mast with a pulley held in place with two little screws!". "You are CRAZY!".

Sailing in Fort Myers is always an adventure.

I've never felt more alive!

Fair Wind,

Capt Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com

 

 

 

This little guy made my day!

This little guy inspired me to do another blog update. Today I did a half day charter and then a sunset cruise. The winds were great today and each sail was special. However, this little guy pictured to the right made a special impression on me during my sunset sail.

This family was from Atlanta and this was their last day before returning. As soon as this little guy got on-board with his parents and 2 friends, he immediately began exploring the boat and asking me if he could buy it from me or "just have it". Ha! I think he opened every drawer or hatch on the boat. But unlike other children he was pretty polite about it and so damn cute in his ways, I didn't mind what he did. Lets not forget to mention the other 11 year old and 15 year old were also very good kids.

What made this kid so special today? First off, his conch blowing ability was shocking. He blew that horn better than most adults, even though the shell was nearly bigger than him. Then, while coming into the dock in the dark, he began singing his version of  Pirates of the Caribbean's  pirate song "Yo Ho Yo Ho, a Pirates life for me"  in the most amazing melodic way while I gently snuck into my very dark boat slip. Then while his mother was below paying for the cruise, he snuck below to offer me his 2 dimes he had as a tip for the cruise. He wouldn't leave until I took them. Then, he came back down again and demanded I take his two shells he found on the beach today and keep them on the boat. Again, I wasn't allowed to refuse. Then while departing the dock after shaking everybody's hands, he ran up to me and hugged me then wished me a Merry Christmas. Amazing! I'm gonna take him up on his offer to work for me. All he asked for in return was potato chips as payment.

Love you buddy,

Capt Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com

This is great!

Yet another update from the helm of Star of Orion sailing the Gulf of Mexico via Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Its hard to actually put into words what I'm feeling about being a sailboat charter captain. All I can say is that as of right now I feel this is the best decision I've ever made and I feel at home in my new position. Every time I go sailing with new people I'm revitalized and come home with excitement racing through me. After 13 years behind the wheel of a semi tractor trailer, I forgot how nice it is to interact with people and share conversation. I guess us humans really are social creatures and we need the interaction. I'm finding it hard to find anything I miss about my previous life as a truck driver. It just blows me away that I'm out there doing what I love, meeting new people who are actually happy to see me and be on my boat, and making a couple bucks at the same time. Amazing! Another perk is that I'm now waking up with the sun and going to bed when I'm tired, no matter what the time. This is quite the change from my previous life of forcing myself to bed by 9:30-10 pm and waking up at 4 am for work. My body is feeling so much better and I'm feeling like I'm adding years to my life instead of just watching them tick away.

Granted, there is work and responsibility involved. The boat requires constant maintenance as does the business. Cleaning, waxing, oil changes, and other maintenance keep me busy. Birds are constantly crapping on my boat and let me tell you...these birds are bigger down here in Florida. We're talking pelican crap! Its like somebody spilled a bucket of white semi gloss paint on your gear. Yuck! Anything made of fabric is always breaking down from the UV rays and require replacement or repair. I have to hire a diver once a month to dive on Star of Orion and scrape the "fuzz" and barnacles off her so I can slip thru the water better and also not damage the hull. The growth on the hull is amazing down here. Happens very quickly. One day your hull is smooth below the waterline, the next day its got shag carpet all over it! Crazy! The good news is that most of this maintenance is the work I would be doing on my personal boat anyways, so its not really that bad. Plus, I'm at a great marina with great weather and with great scenery all around.

So there you go. Another update from the helm of Star of Orion and Magic Wind Adventure Sailing. Sailing Fort Myers is alive and running and I'm feeling great. Pack your bags, book a cruise, and Lets Go Sailing!!!

Fair Winds,

Captain Dan Mendat

www.sailmagicwind.com