03/03 - 03/05 - Hontoon Island CBGT Deland, Florida

The boats referred to by James are "shells": Sculls (where a shell is rowed with a person using two oars; usually one and two person) and Sweeps (where each rower has a single oar--usually 4 or 8 rowers). The larger boats have a coxswain who faces forward, and the rowers face aft (pulling mostly with their legs on sliding seats). The aft most sweep (stroke sets the pace and can possibly see danger coming from aft. These boats only have relatively low freeload and the beam is very narrow (11" to 24"). They are capable of about 13 to 14 mph when racing.

The river is narrow, so passing at an acute angle is not possible. I find that when going the same direction I slow down and follow along, unless they are going very slowly. In that case, I get as far away and parallel as I can, and get to a speed which will pass them slowly.

Where going the opposite direction, I slow to a idle just fast enough to control my boat, and again get as close to the bank as possible to minimize the boat wake. I usually slow when I am at least 100 yards from them to minimize the wake--coming directly off the plane to an idle speed.

It seems that when these teams are practicing that they do take frequent breaks to critique and rest. This is a good time to pass slowly. Many teams have a coach boat. The more affluent teams have specially designed light weight catamarans, which make minimal wake at 10 to 15 mph. Others may have an aluminum Jon boat or a Boston Whaler type, some of which will often make considerable wakes at the Sculls speed. However, the narrower square bowed boats can get between rowers for adjustments, safety and relief of crew.

A competitive racing shell can cost as much as a C Dory ($25,000 to $50,000).
 
I just made reservations for 7B. (Would prefer 9B, but somebody beat me to it. :( I think 7B is where we were last year. If all goes well, we should be launching Friday afternoon. Not sure if we'll head up to DeLeon Springs then, or find somewhere to anchor out, or maybe even head down to Hontoon. (Reservations for Sunday thru Thursday night). Pretty sure if the water is high enough, we'll head to DeLeon Springs then Saturday to spend the night and pancake place Sunday morning before heading back to Hontoon. (If we launch early enuf, we'll try to get up to DeLeon Friday evening for pancakes Saturday.) Anyone that would like to go that way are welcome to follow us. I have AIS and it will be squawking. Should show Midnight Flyer if you have an AIS receiver. Now, just praying for decent travel weather, and no local ice and/or snow storms. Colby
 
Colby, we will probably arrive at Ed Stone about lunch time. Take a little while to get all organized, then run up to Hontoon for Friday Night. My reservations are Monday thru Thursday--not worried about getting a slip on Friday. We are open to what others are wanting to do on Sat/Sunday--No Pancakes for Bob, but there are alternatives....Plus Marie loves the Pancakes...

See you there. (And I know of at least several others who will be there Friday PM.)
 
Tom just called me and will be posting later, but water might be a little low for DeLeon Springs. See you or at least talk to you, on Friday.
 
Bill Smith called me this AM and said the water was probably too low to go to DeLeon Springs. There are many more areas to explore on the St. John’s. I’ll be making a three day trip on the River the week before the gathering with family. I’ll report back then. My after gathering plans may have to be modified .

Also only 4 boats have let me know that they want a boat inspection....surely there are more. Just send me a PM and I’ll get you on the list. Tom

If I see any of the rowers coaches I’ll ask what they prefer. I like going down the Hontoon Dead.....they don’t go that way.
‘
 
Hi Fellow Brats!

Marcia and I are at Bahia Honda SP Marina on Valkyrie II for a month and plan on coming back up to Hontoon for the CBGT in March. We were there for the event once before and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I noticed on this thread that some are making reservations and wondered if that is necessary. The Hontoon SP website notes that they have 40 docks and that are first-come, first-serve and that reservations are not accepted for dockage.

Advice appreciated and we are looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Best regards,

Nick and Marcia
“Valkyrie II”
C-Dory 25
 
This is the first year that Hontoon has started taking reservations. I finally made mine, as I like the end I reserved, and while it's usually available when I show up Sunday evening for the gathering, I wasn't sure if anyone else would reserve it. I suspect however with all the space, and with the gathering during the week day, it won't be a problem for those showing up with out reservations. (I hate making reservations, as with our Midwest winters, there is no guarantee that I can come. Only the desire to be there. :D )
 
Ref reservations--I'd tried last year, but I could not find a "map" of the slips. It is with the campground map currently. There is a reservation fee, so it costs slightly more. I wanted to get a specific slip--because of convenience; easier to back into with the prevailing wind (which will probably be the opposite when we get there). and a starboard side boarding, which is much easier for us with out back problems. But Colby is correct even with the largest gathering of 37 boats (?) they all got slips.

Nick and Marsha--great you are there now and will be there at the gathering.
 
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Petaluma River Will Be Dredged, and San Rafael Appears to Be Next
By Tim Henry | February 12, 2020 | 0
After years of lobbying, advocating and at times pleading for help, the Petaluma River will finally be dredged for the first time since 2003. Money has also been set aside for dredging the San Rafael Canal.

“The US Army Corps of Engineers will be allocating roughly $9.7 million this year to pay for the project, [Congressman] Jared Huffman announced Monday,” the Press Democrat reported. “An additional $1.3 million was set aside for preliminary work to eventually dredge the San Rafael Canal.”

Huffman said that he was, “Very happy for the people of Petaluma. They’ve waited a long time.”


Bradford Rex, who called himself a “concerned waterman” in Petaluma, sent us this photo in summer 2018. “These fellows . . . are not the first to get stuck in the Petaluma turning basin and they won’t be the last. My charges in the summer sailing camp have learned to use the dagger boards of their el toros to scoot off the mud, but that doesn’t work so well for a fixed keel. Dredging isn’t just for the sake of pleasure boaters. Water finds its own level and if the river is full of silt then water ends up in someone’s backyard and a business lot. I suppose we’ll have to wait for the car dealerships and the outlet mall to flood before the best slough on earth gets dredged.” Well, the wait may be over, Bradford.
© 2020 Bradford Rex
Dredging could start as early as June, the Press Democrat said, adding that the Army Corps is supposed to maintain the 18-mile river every four years, but has fallen way behind on scheduled maintenance. The cost of dredging has increased as stricter environmental regulations have mandated that toxic spoils removed from digging be dumped in designated areas away from sensitive ecosystems.

Last month, Petaluma’s city council approved nearly $2 million for an emergency dredge of the river turning basin and Petaluma Marina in case the Army Corps again passed on doing the work, the Press Democrat said. “With the project now covered, the city will use that money on the marina, where the number of vessels leasing space is now less than 40% of capacity, or about half the Bay Area average.”

A spokesman for the California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference, or CMANC — a consortium of California harbors, ports and marine interest groups — said that this year’s budget request for dredging was “the largest a president has ever asked for; almost 20% more than he asked for last year.” Despite the hefty allocation, CMANC said “the amount requested is less than California’s Ports and Harbors need in Federal Fiscal Year 2021 by over $100 million.
 
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General Sailing
Petaluma River Will Be Dredged, and San Rafael Appears to Be Next
By Tim Henry | February 12, 2020 | 0
After years of lobbying, advocating and at times pleading for help, the Petaluma River will finally be dredged for the first time since 2003. Money has also been set aside for dredging the San Rafael Canal.

“The US Army Corps of Engineers will be allocating roughly $9.7 million this year to pay for the project, [Congressman] Jared Huffman announced Monday,” the Press Democrat reported. “An additional $1.3 million was set aside for preliminary work to eventually dredge the San Rafael Canal.”

Huffman said that he was, “Very happy for the people of Petaluma. They’ve waited a long time.”


Bradford Rex, who called himself a “concerned waterman” in Petaluma, sent us this photo in summer 2018. “These fellows . . . are not the first to get stuck in the Petaluma turning basin and they won’t be the last. My charges in the summer sailing camp have learned to use the dagger boards of their el toros to scoot off the mud, but that doesn’t work so well for a fixed keel. Dredging isn’t just for the sake of pleasure boaters. Water finds its own level and if the river is full of silt then water ends up in someone’s backyard and a business lot. I suppose we’ll have to wait for the car dealerships and the outlet mall to flood before the best slough on earth gets dredged.” Well, the wait may be over, Bradford.
© 2020 Bradford Rex
Dredging could start as early as June, the Press Democrat said, adding that the Army Corps is supposed to maintain the 18-mile river every four years, but has fallen way behind on scheduled maintenance. The cost of dredging has increased as stricter environmental regulations have mandated that toxic spoils removed from digging be dumped in designated areas away from sensitive ecosystems.

Last month, Petaluma’s city council approved nearly $2 million for an emergency dredge of the river turning basin and Petaluma Marina in case the Army Corps again passed on doing the work, the Press Democrat said. “With the project now covered, the city will use that money on the marina, where the number of vessels leasing space is now less than 40% of capacity, or about half the Bay Area average.”

A spokesman for the California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference, or CMANC — a consortium of California harbors, ports and marine interest groups — said that this year’s budget request for dredging was “the largest a president has ever asked for; almost 20% more than he asked for last year.” Despite the hefty allocation, CMANC said “the amount requested is less than California’s Ports and Harbors need in Federal Fiscal Year 2021 by over $100 million.
 
Hey Pedro! I think you got your coasts mixed up here. lol! Would love to have you join us in Florida at Hontoon tho! Miss seeing yah, and doesn't look like I'll be out west, at least this year...But would love to come back for the Delta Cruise again sometime in the future. And maybe even the Catalina one. Colby
 
We are new C-Dory owners interested in attending the gathering at Hontoon Beach. We joined the group under 'event signups' - does this mean we are signed up? Also, where can we find out more information about where to go, etc?

Thanks!
 
Signing you up, you are good to go. Launch at Ed Stone Co. Park. Park on the Grass next to Hwy 44. The park is at Fl 44 and the East side of St. John's River.
W\
Go South about 4 miles, Hontoon Island on the Right, just after Holly Bluff Marina on the Left, around the bend. Docks are visible on the right--pull in and take a non reserved slip, or to to the Park web site and reserve a site.

Bring a couple of pot luck dishes, (Main burgers and dogs on Tues, KFC on Wed and left overs on Thursday.

Hang out, enjoy!
 
Ed & Linda, just beware of the Manatees and NO Wake zones. That's really the biggest issue to be aware of. From Ed Stone to Hontoon, is mostly no wake. There is a short section where you can push it up to 20mph. I believe it's about 5 miles from Ed Stone to Hontoon. Can't miss it. Some folks will launch at Astor Marine, and some others at Hontoon Landing right across from Hontoon State Park. But most of us use Ed Stone, as it's free, and I don't believe anyone (knock on wood) has had any issues leaving our rigs parked there for several weeks.) But as Bob said, park on the grass next to the highway so we are not taking up the regular parking slots. The main River channel is pretty easy to follow. Turn left out of Ed Stone, follow the main channel. Once you get to Hontoon, plan on backing in to a slip as anchors are not allowed to hang over the docks. It's a great gathering and you can join any of the activities going on during the gathering. The past few years (and I'll sign up again this year) I've led a tour known as the Hontoon Loop, where we go around the island seeing plenty of birds, probably some alligators, and hopefully some Manatees. Others may lead down to Sanford or up to DeLeon Springs, depending upon the water depth. (Those tours are usually before or after the gathering.) The park is great for hiking or bike riding if you'd like. Read back thru the thread here, and you can gather a bit more information. Colby
 
A couple of questions;

Does anyone know if there are any restrictions on flying a drone at the Hontoon marina? If not I will bring one and happy to take Aerial photos to share with others.

Also wondering if there is any worry about leaving the trailer at Ed Stone with a lock on the hitch as we want to want to run downstate for a couple of days after the Cruise without pulling boat and trailer.
 
Flying drones at Florida State parks is prohibited with the exception of one dedicated drone park. I do not know if being over the River is considered “park” however. If your going to bring it anyway we can consult the park manager.

If you want to leave your boat and trailer for a few days contact Holly Bluff Marina. They have a nice secure parking area. They do not allow parking at Ed Stone Park unless your tow vehicle is attached.

Tom
 
We have left our rigs at Ed Stone County park for up to 3 weeks + without problems. The Sheriff deputies seem to come thru there at regular intervals.

There is no flying of drones when in state parks. Outside of the park as long as it is a flying allowed zone, it is OK.

Florida Administrative Code 5I-4.003 // 2016

This state code prohibits drones on managed lands, including Florida state parks and forests, except at a runway or a helispot and only with authorization from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Click to expand...

I have purchased a Mavric Mini specifically because of the under 55 grams weight, to use for scouting if we are having problems getting up into the Econlockhatchee River, assuming adequate water (also applies to De Leon Springs, and a few other places). But there are lots of wonderful other places to go to, and to video. There are a number other areas of restricted air space along the St. John's River due to wilderness areas, state Forrests and other state parks.

Having said the above, I believe that one could launch the drone from outside the park, and fly over the river (less than 400', visual site of the craft) and take photos of the gathering and boats.). The area across from Hontoon, is not state park or forrest. There is one small section South of Snake Creek which is also not state park or state Forrest on the East Bank of Hontoon Dead River...., so a few places one could launch a drone potentially.
 
Donny,

In past Gatherings, our esteemed Host Tom has said that the ‘local authorities’ don’t like boat trailers at Ed Stone without their trucks attached (looks like folks ‘storing’ a trailer on public property). However, we tow the trailer to Holly Bluff Marina back forty lot and they will store it for $10 a day for however long you want, and you can then park your truck (no trailer) at the Hontoon State Park parking lot at the ferry landing.

$10/day is the same as dual axle trailer parking in Key West at Garrison Bight, but just get over it.

I think this is the best available way to get what you are looking for.

John
 
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