SAIL trip descriptions

PRICES

TOUR MANUAL

We offer three basic types of SAILING eco-tours.

1 - A single day trip sailing out through the passes to a relatively nearby key island for lunch on the beach and a sail back to generally tour and get a feel for the craft and sea.

2 - An overnight Eco-tour : 2-day 1-night or 3-day 2-night eve
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nt farther out to camp on a Key island beach and fish, sail, explore and spend time watching wildlife.

3. - A wilderness waterway sailing adventure from Everglades City to Flamingo and/or loop return.

   Our Sailing tours are intended to be leisurely focused on the ecology of the 10,000 island region . We use the Sea Pearl sailing canoes or "Skiffs" for that purpose. They are open, fast, stable, have excellent payload capacity and very versatile. These boats are stunningly seaworthy, self bail and rain and big waves have little effect in that regard. The double end hull configuration, as most canoes feature, enhances the seaworthiness of the vessel and at 21' L.O.A. enable these boats to safely ride out seas in nearly all conditions.
   Sea pearls also have a unique feature that they can be rowed extremely well. They come with oar locks and well placed rowing seat and a nice lightweight set of oars. Rowing is a pleasure and a good oarsman can go for hours and fast enough to keep up with expert kayakers. Under sail, these boats will blow away any paddling craft even against the wind they will become a dot on the horizon very quickly.
   The boats also come equipped with an optional sun bimini top and a camper-like cock pit cover for staying on the boat overnight. Two people can sleep as comfortable as in any tent. This feature makes the Sea Pearls a superior craft as the places to camp along the waterway can be sparse and there's no pressure to have to arrive at particular campsites or chickees at specified times or stay over in crowded places.
    In terms of performance and user friendly design, these boats are about as easy to sail as any sailboat ever made. The masts are free standing and just rolling them in place will allow for super easy sail reefing. They are of a cat-ketch configuration, and point up very well to the wind. The mizzen sail also allows for excellent "hove to" performance and makes for easy solo work away from the tiller even in very windy conditions. There are no head sails necessary and just a main sail and a mizzen sail.
   Another extremely important aspect of the sea pearl 21 sailing canoe is their ability to move over very shallow water. This means a draft of about a foot or less is all there is and in the oyster bar laden flats and shallows of the Everglades estuaries equate to stress free sailing. Just like a canoe. The boats weigh less than 600 pounds and have no keel centerboard to be worried about.
What they have is lee boards. These are similar to centerboards except there are two located on each side and pivoted on the gunnels. They pull up to zero depth or let down to 3' deep and double up the beam width for stability. The boats are also equipped with water ballast tanks inside that can be filled or pumped out anytime and will significantly change the attitude and stiffness of the boat as an additional 400#s of weight can be added below if desired and can be a nice feature especially if we venture solo on the outside in heavier weather.
   Any person with sailing experience or even decent power boating skills should be able to master the boat in little time and with the aid of our expert guides have a very safe, comfortable, and green mode of exploration. We do however, have powered support boats readily available and in constant contact as necessary.

   The Sea Pearl 21 is by far one of the best watercraft available for exploring Florida's mangrove coastline and the reason we use these vessels for our eco-tours.

   We provide all high quality gear. The pfd's, flashlights, nav. lights, dry bags, tarp, oars are clean and top notch. The seats are padded and comfortable. We have accessible deck bags and drink holders, extra water, compass, charts, anchor, tow line, sunscreen, mosquito netting & repellent and a beach towel with every boat. Each person has a stand-alone craft and could if ever necessary as the equipment survive the swamp on their own. The sea pearls also are equipped with a "kicker" motor for use when the currents are running high in a pass or river with the wind or conditions warrant getting along when the wind fails. These kickers will efficiently move these boats along and there's enough power to easily tow another sea Pearl if necessary. Another excellent safety feature.

   We provide all provisions such as cold drinks, ice water, fresh fruit, snack bars and an excellent boxed lunch on our day trips. Each boat has a stocked cooler on board as well.

   For the overnight events, Everglades Edge outfitters will provide all food and refreshments.
Be sure to let us know any particular preferences or allergies in advance when signing up and we'll be sure to accommodate your preferences. Our dinners are expertly put together at the beach by our experienced outdoor cook. Screened tent, lanterns, table, chairs and cooking supplies and dinner and breakfast will be brought in by the guides on their craft. We make our camps a home away from home.

                                                                                    What to bring!

A. CLOTHES

1. Although you don't need footwear on the decks of our vessels, boat shoes are recommended for better traction and prevention of toe stubs on the various hardware. To save your boat shoes, inexpensive surf shoes are ideal to have handy for getting in and out along the shoreline. Oyster bars are numerous and shells are very tough on your feet - foot protection from those hazards is mandatory and surf shoes offer excellent protection and easy on and off. Also when camping, bring some additional lightweight sneakers, thongs or sandals to wear around the campsite in comfort.

2. A well ventilated & light colored large brimmed hat, will best protect your head and you from the hot glaring sun and worth the effort to get a good one with a strap to keep it on in the wind.

3. Bring a lightweight rain jacket and other layers for changing weather conditions such as a lightweight T or heavy T and sweat shirt or thermal undershirt. Long pants like sweats or something light for night is good as well as some extra heavy socks to keep your feet warm in the tent.
For sun control, a lightweight and loose fitting long sleeve light colored cotton shirt is ideal.

When it doubt, bring it along and the guide will help you determine what you'll need for the day. Sometimes things can get hotter than you'd ever expect as well as colder at times but we'll know the prevailing conditions of the day very well.

4. For kayakers and sailors, bring some extra swim shorts and shorts to wear in the tent. The salt spray will make those you are wearing grimy and stiff and should be rinsed and dried at days end.

      B. FOOD AND DRINKS.

1. We have handy places for 2 drink bottles on each boat and can carry much more below. We provide ice water, bottles, granola bars and fresh fruit for our snacks on the boats. For overnight tours we provide all food and drink for the duration of the tour. We don't serve any alcoholic beverages.

    C.   PERSONALS

1. Use of sunscreen is extremely important. We have some available but bringing your own is a good idea. 2 types are suggested- spf 45 in a small tube for the face, nose and ears for convenience and a larger back-up tube for moisturizing (non-greasy) and protecting general skin areas.

2. For medications, I-pods, phones, keys, etc... each boat has small storage niches under the deck, there are also small dry bags available for each person to use.

3. Bring a can of bug spray with you if you'd like. We will have spray and other repellents available and handy for everyone. But if you have to bring your own, take some that is in a small tube or bottle that can be easily carried, doesn't leak or damage plastics.

NOTE:
Please sure to see also the specific tour manuals that are provided for each person that is going on our sailing Tours.
There will be other valuable information included that will be need to be reviewed.

10,000 ISLANDS OVERNIGHT CAMP & ESTUARY SAIL

2 DAYS 1 NIGHT OR 3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS OR MORE.

This tour is for experienced adventurers and those with some sailing experience or persons
who have good understanding of marine seamanship as these boats are remarkably easy to sail but still require some knowledge of the rules of the road, tides, windage, vhf radio and reading marine charts.
We'll load up at the dock with everything we need for the expedition into the 1o,ooo island estuary. Before we go however, we will review the route, equipment and talk about where we're going and what we might expect for the day.
Depending on weather and camp availability, customer preferences and experience, we'll decide our routes and destinations.
From the dock it's off across Chokoloskee Bay for some practice sailing and then out to the Gulf. We'll sail to our campsite. Perhaps Pavilion, Tiger, Rabbit or Picnic key depending on our route. They all have a sandy beach with fishing, shelling, sunning, exploring or just relaxing.
If we intend to camp, we'll set up our home away from home and have a great outdoor dinner. If two or less and preferred, we can simply just stay on the boat instead of the beach. After a good rest it's breakfast and then time to head back to the water to head back home while exploring across the flats and through mangrove channels. We'll certainly have some excellent sightings of perhaps sea turtles, manatees, leopard rays, dolphins and other marine life too numerous to list.
If we are touring on a multi-night schedule, we could go west to Cape Romano or east to New Turkey Key. The slate is open to where we can go and perhaps even up some rivers such as the Huston or Chatham and go inside to the bays. The Sea Pearl 21 sailing vessels open a wide array of travel throughout the region and each trip planned according to each specific time, preference and availability of destinations and number of participants. Each boat can sleep 2 or carry up to four to an island. No matter the course or configuration this trip will surely rate as an essential for full appreciation of the eco-system.

       WILDERNESS WATERWAY EXPEDITION

8 days 7 nights or 5 days 4 nights
This tour begins day 1 with a review of the route and what sort of conditions we should expect. We will begin from Everglades City. From there will loop toward the east and probably head out through Chokoloskee pass, an old- time access for the early settlers.
We'll meander through the mangrove swamp until we stop and rest for lunch at perhaps Pavilion Key. From there it's out across the flats and over duck Rocks to gain some good experiences sighting the inevitable pods of dolphins, manatees, pelicans, turtles, ospreys, and other sea creature too numerous to list. We'll stop at maybe Mormon Key or New Turkey as a fantastic flat and beach exist at both locations. When the tide drops it's great exploration on the flat and our camp will be superb.
If we're only there for a night and after breakfast we'll head down on the outside to Lostman's River and into the back Bays. From there we'll find the wilderness waterway inside passage and cruise into that wonderful world and eventually find Rogers Chickee or another site ground site around the Roger's Bay area. After dinner we'll perhaps fish or explore a little more around the bays before going to bed.
Day 3 begins with continuing our Journey through the bays and down and out the Broad River. We may then, depending on our progress stop and camp at Graveyard Creek or possibly continue through the incredible mangrove forest and channels at Pone De Leon Bay delta and into Whitewater Bay and stay maybe at Oyster Bay Chickee, Joe River Chickee or even Watson River Chickee if the wind is in our favor.
After a great dinner we'll lounge around the campfire or fish or stargaze and listen to the nighttime sounds of life on the ocean for our third night out.
Day 4 after breakfast, we pack it in and continue south through beautiful White Water Bay and along several bird rookeries and oyster bars and interesting mangrove forms unique to this bay. We'll take an the Tarpon Creek passage into Coot Bay and then into the Buttonwood Canal to the Flamingo Marina.
Once in Flamingo we'll tour the town and visitor center eat dinner at the restaurant and stay the night at the local motel.
The next day #5 in Flamingo, we'll enjoy a breakfast at the restaurant and check out the vast Florida Bay scenery and Eco Pond. After some hours of great birding we'll gather up and resupply at the marina store and disembark the marina and cruise back into White Water Bay and sail more around White water Bay and eventually to the north to spend night #5.
We may decide on Day#6 to cruise up and into the Shark river and enjoy the amazing wilderness features there and eventually into Tarpon Bay and visit Canepatch and then out the Harney River to that chickee or decide rather to sail outside and eventually arrive and stay the night at Highland Beach.
Day 7 will take us sailing up the coast northward past Lostman's River to Pavilion Key for our final night or into the Chatham River to Watson's Place for our last night's stay in the Wilderness.
Day 8, we sail back home to Everglades City to our final landfall and bid farewell to a life experience and an accomplishment to be remembered forever.

   WATSON COUNTRY FRONTIER DAY SAIL

8 - 10 HOURS
This eco-tour takes us on a cruise around the Chokoloskee Bay area.
We begin from our dock in Everglades City into Chokoloskee Bay. This a perfect location to sail inmost conditions and a great place to hone your sailing skills prior to heading out through the passes into the gulf.
Rabbit Key pass, Chokoloskee Pass , Sandfly Pass or Indian Key pass are all options where we can explore and come and go. When in the gulf, if we elect to go there, there various Key Islands we can stop or we can just keep on cruising and exploring back into the Bay.
We'll eat a lunch an excellent lunch and enjoy drinks and snacks under sail, at anchor or on the beach. We'll meander through the mangroves, ghost over the grass flats and enjoy a day in tune with nature while sharing the sea equally with our fellow creatures of the sea and air. A day to be remembered for a very long time.