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Going with the Wind
A relaxing day of sailing
CHIARA ASSI
Captain John Murray keeps everyone entertained on board of his sailboat, "All In"
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IF YOU GO
RATES & INFO:
Half day: $50 per person
Full day: $100 per person
If one day of sailing is not enough for you Captain Murray offers the option to plan extended charters that can range anywhere from two days to a week to destinations such as the Florida Keys and the Dry Tortugas. Rates vary depending on the number of guests, the length of the cruise and the food and drinks requested by the passengers.
For more info call 239-293-9114
Waves slap the hull and above, the sail snaps smartly in a middling wind. Captain John Murray turns the key and the whining, high-pitched sound of the engine disappears. All I can hear is the breeze against the sails and the quiet sing-song of the waves below us.
"… and we’re sailing," Murray says.
It’s a beautiful March afternoon, the wind blows gently but constantly from the Northwest as the sailboat slices through the water of Matanzas Pass on the Gulf of Mexico. The sun is high in the sky: The perfect conditions for a pleasant day of fun and relax on the water.
It’s not power boating or jet skiing, of course. Sailing has a different kind of charm, one without the numbing throb of the engine and the heady rush of speed.
"The main difference between boating and sailing is that people with motorboats are using their boat to go somewhere and have fun. When you are on a sailboat, you have fun all the time and you don’t really need to go anywhere," says Murray as we glide over the waves.
Murray knows what he’s talking about: He has been around boats all his life. He grew up in the Seattle area, inheriting his love of sailing from his father. As a kid he followed his dad when he raced his sailboat in the Puget Sound area of northwest Washington and British Columbia and enjoyed many summers spent cruising with the family in the Canadian waters. By the time he got to college, Murray had experienced all kinds of sailing, weather and water conditions and began teaching sailing at the University of Washington.
He moved to Florida in 2001 and for a few years he abandoned sailing to dedicate more time to a fulltime job as a fire fighter and to fishing charters. Two years ago, though, he decided to return to his first true love: He sold his fishing charter business and bought All In, a gorgeous 42-foot 1997 Catalina. Nowadays, All In is moored at Salty Sam’s Marina in Fort Myers Beach, the starting point of all Murray’s cruises.
All In Sailing Charters offers a variety of cruises which vary in length and destinations suitable to make everyone happy: from beginners who have never been on a boat before to sailing aficionados. Our four hour afternoon cruise turns out to be perfect both for experienced sailors and sailing newbies: as we lazily sail in front of Fort Myers Beach I notice I’m getting a great tan without being hot, a plus for people who are sensitive to the extreme Florida heat.
Shortly into our cruise we start spotting dolphins playing in our wake. There’s something about the way a porpoise playfully jumps out of the water that makes even the most jaded boater giddy with excitement. We all grab our cameras and camera phones, trying to immortalize the dolphins as they show off their jumping skills, but alas we all end up with several blurry pictures of empty water.
As the dolphins slowly disappear we return to our relaxing routine: not having to hold on or brace ourselves we have more time to enjoy drinks and snacks. For normal half and full day sails, Captain John doesn’t provide any drinks or food – however he encourages his customers to bring on board whatever they desire to eat and drink. My sailing mates and I have stashed water and beer in the huge cooler in the cockpit and someone has brought a giant beg of pretzels to munch on while we sail around the Gulf. When I ask our Captian if there are any restrictions on what to bring on board he shrugs "Not really. But please, no glass containers on the boat."
As sunset approaches the wind gets stronger and the temperature starts dropping, we reach for our jackets and bundle up in the cockpit, thankful to have an extra layer on clothing. Whenever you go out sailing make sure to bring some long pants and a jacket: the temperature on the open water can be several degrees lower than at the dock, and there’s nothing worse than shivering and shaking while everyone else is having fun. Also, if you have never been on a sailboat before, bring some Dramamine with you, just in case your stomach turns out to be weaker than what you think. But don’t be scared: All In is an extremely stable vessel and sailing is a much smoother experience than power boating.
After an afternoon of cold beer and pretzels we feel like it’s time for some more serious eating. A picnic on the water expert on board has brought his favorite sailing food: Buns and brats with plenty of condiments to go with them, perfect to warm you up as the sun starts going down. Captain Murray fires up the grill in the cockpit and a half hour later, we are all enjoying a nice and hot cheddar brat with spicy honey mustard and ketchup. The sunset is now almost over, the sky is painted a dramatic hue of orange, and we’re taking down the main sail, headed back to the marina. As I disembark All In it’s hard not to look back at the day of fun, sun and relax without wishing I could do it all over again tomorrow.
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All In sailing charters
Salty Sam’s Marina
2500 Main St., Fort Myers Beach
(239) 293-9114
www.aisailingcharters.com
- Half day: $50 per person
- Full day: $100 per person
- Extended charters available. Rates vary depending on the number of guests, the length of the cruise and the food and drinks requested by the passengers.
Naples Sailing Adventures
Naples City Dock
880 12th Ave. S., Naples
(239) 354-0305
www.naplessailingadventures.com
- Day sails with or without sailing class available. Call for quotes.
Sweet Liberty
Naples City Dock
880 12th Ave. S., Naples
(239) 793-3525
www.sweetliberty.com
- 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. afternoon tour, $29.50 adult, $15 children
12 and Under
- Every evening 11/2 hours prior to sunset, $29.50 adults $15 children 12 and Under
Sailboats Unlimited
Naples City Dock
880 12th Ave. S., Naples
(239) 649-1740
www.sailboatsunlimited.com
- 2-hour, half day or full day sails available. Call for quotes.
Magic Wind Adventure Sailing
Salty Sam’s Marina
2500 Main St., Fort Myers Beach
(800) 975-5824
www.sailmagicwind.com
- Half day (4 hours): $50 per person
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