[Rhodes22-list] Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte

[Robert Quinn]

Dave:  Did you get into Punta Gorda Isles?  While we were sailing out of PGI 
in late 2003 and early 2004 (before Charlie) there were tons of sailboats. 
So much so in fact, we thought about relocating from the east coast of 
Florida to PGI.  We sailed Charlotte Harbor quite often, spent one night at 
Burnt Store Marina for grins, and anchored off Cayo Costa Island several 
times over the near six months.  We finally headed to Stuart in April of 
2004 with a wonderful run from PGI, to Cayo Costa, Naples, Marco Island, 
Shark River, Marathon, Key West, back to Marathon, Matacombe (we had planned 
on going up the Hawk Channel but the winds were up so we cut over at 
Marathon and went up on the inside via Florida Bay), Pumpkin Key, through 
Biscayne Bay to Miami's No Name Harbor, Ft. Lauderdale, Lake Worth (Palm 
Beach), and to Stuart.

We were over to PGI last Spring and visited the homes where our sailboat was 
berthed while in PGI and saw, once again, tons of sailboats but tied up 
behind homes.  We did see several out on Charlotte Harbor sailing.

I don't know if you just hit the area at a bad time or what.  Try calling a 
fellow by the name of Tim Gower @ 941 637-8111  He is the broker who helped 
us.  He may be able to give you an update on sailing conditions in the area 
as he owns a Cabo Rico.

In the meantime, we still love the southeast coast of Florida.

Bob on the "NoKaOi"


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <DCLewis1 at aol.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2006 8:52 PM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte



Folks,

Back on Feb 9 I posted a request for input regarding sailing/retirement
locales.  A number of people responded.  Several people suggested  Punta
Gorda/Port Charlotte (PG/PC).

We visited PG/PC about 2 weeks ago on a swing down the east coast and I was
surprised.

- There was 1 power boat in the PG marina, no sail boats.  For  practical
purposes it was empty.
- I asked at the Chamber of Commerce (CoC)  about the lack of boats and was
told the marina had been closed for 2  years.  It has to be dredged.  I was
told the plan was to open it next  year - but the lady didn’t sound 
convinced of
that.
- We went to PG Isle to  assess their beach and see the boating.  The beach
was minimal and clearly  there was still a lot of debris from the hurricane
that hit them 2 years  ago.
- While at the PG beach we saw one sail boat (~30') motor out of a  canal,
appear to run aground, turn around, and motor back into it’s canal.   As I
recall we saw no sail boats off shore out to the horizon.
- We drove  over to the PC beach.  Same story.  Somewhat bigger beach, but a
lot  of debris in the water.  We saw 1 sail boat on the horizon.
- We asked  the PG CoC people about keeping a boat at PG.  They said that if
you wanted  to do it NOW that you’d have to go out to the Burn’t Store 
Marina
- which is  about 15 to 20 minutes out of PG.  The marina may be in the next
county, it’s sure not in PG proper.
- The Burnt Store Marina looked to be  active, quite a number of boats and
sailboats.

But my problem is PG/PC.  This is their high season, I’d expect to see  a 
lot
of boats.  We saw basically none.  The PG marina is closed and  has been
closed for a couple of years.

Was the PG/PC sailing ground basically wiped out by the hurricane that hit
them?  It sure didn’t look active to me.  What have I missed?

Dave
__________________________________________________
Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list