Fort Myers Florida Weekly

Local knowledge can give you an advantage on the water

THE GREAT OUTDOORS



Dennis and Nancy Kirk on the water. DENNIS KIRK / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Dennis and Nancy Kirk on the water. DENNIS KIRK / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Any time you travel to a new location by camper, RV or boat, there is a certain learning curve at your destination. Mingling with locals is a great way to learn some of the more provincial customs, dos and don’ts. This information is called local knowledge — and, although much it won’t be found in your travel book or on a nautical chart, it is very important.

Back in the early 1980s I was in charge of giving new sailboat charter clients an orientation before they headed out on their own from Burnt Store Marina. The boats we had for charter were Whitby 42s, which had a draft of a little over 4 feet, normally loaded with provisions for a week-long charter. For newbies to sailing, many of these folks came from northern states like Ohio or Michigan or even the New England area. Sailing up there is mostly in deeper waters, and markers are heeded very well due to rocky bottom structure. Here in Southwest Florida, our waters are very shallow, mostly sand, and the underwater topography shallows gradually (except in places like Boca Grande Pass and other passes with shifting sands).

Now is the time to explore Charlotte Harbor by boat. DENNIS KIRK / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Now is the time to explore Charlotte Harbor by boat. DENNIS KIRK / FLORIDA WEEKLY

The introduction to the sailing gear aboard and boat handling was usually fairly straightforward, as most clients knew how to sail efficiently. The orientation to local waters and reviewing the NOAA charts took about two to three hours. I would first ask the clients what their ideas of a perfect charter vacation would be. The answers ranged from spending time day sailing, then to be in a swanky marina for the night so they could hook up to A/C and also a place with a good restaurant. Other people wanted secluded coves and the quiet of an anchorage with no one else around, just sitting on deck after cooking aboard, a drink in their hands, sharing with family and friends, watching the stars and the huge night sky with the expanse of the Milky Way visible above. There was always a combination of these, as well as many that included water and beach activities.

After finding out what the charterers were looking for, I proceeded to go over all the places that were available to them. Most of the charters were for a week or two, but some were longer. The longer ones expanded the range they could travel, and my orientation would span from St. Petersburg all the way down to the Keys and the Dry Tortugas. (Key West seems to be the bucket list port for sailors for some reason.)

Dennis KIRK

Dennis KIRK

I would cover the areas to get fuel and supplies, as well as marinas and places to anchor that would suit their style. The idea was to give them so many great choices that were easy to navigate, that they didn’t have much call to go to other places where they could get into trouble with the boat. You might think local knowledge is only for new people boating, camping or traveling, but it is for anyone wanting to enjoy the local scene more like a … well … local. Nancy and I were out in our boat this past week and visited a few spots off the beaten path. With the recent heavy rains, the water was darker than usual. But since we had local knowledge obtained from 40-plus years in this area, we felt comfortable taking some shortcuts and exploring. We found some great fishing spots and some great wildlife that was rarely disturbed by people, so the animals stayed still as we went by, allowing us to observe them quietly. We love the water and Charlotte Harbor — and the surrounding areas both to our north and to the south are a water-lover’s dream.

For those of you who have an adventurous spirit, there is no better time than now to go out and use your boat or charter out to the beautiful islands of Florida’s coast, and enjoy our great outdoors. I guarantee you will have memories to last a very long time.

Fair winds; calm seas. ¦

— Capt. Dennis Kirk and his wife, Nancy, are avid mariners and outdoor enthusiasts. Since the 1970s, their love of nature in Southwest Florida has allowed them to experience the dream of writing about their travels and adventures of sailing, fishing or flying out of their homeport on the Peace River, the old DeSoto marina.

One response to “Local knowledge can give you an advantage on the water”

  1. Thomas C. Chase says:

    Dear Dennis,

    Love your articles in Florida Weekly. Something makes me wonder if you ever met the historian, Robert Macomber? We share a passion for Florida and sw Fla specifically. Wondering if you ever (bet you did) delved into the history of the stilt houses in Pine Island sound.

    I’m a “recovering lawyer”, enjoying more time outdoors with my wife and friends since I’ve retired. Started writing about the outdoors years ago, never aiming to publish anything, but your articles strike a chord. Any chance we could compare notes over coffee in the near future?

    Sincerely,

    Tom Chase

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