Cape Coral Cruise Club monthly journal
December 2023
October 20th through 23rd, the Cape Coral Cruise Club embarked on a delightful journey to Marina Jack’s in downtown Sarasota, with a flotilla of six boats. The picturesque cruise offered members ideal weather conditions for their scenic voyage, creating a camaraderie among enthusiasts of the open water.
Adding a touch of diversity, one couple joined in on the adventure by car and found accommodations at the charming Carlisle Inn, while another couple also joined the group for dinner on Saturday evening.
During their stay, club members explored the vibrant arts scene, with many indulging in the St. Armand’s Circle art show. The event proved to be a treasure trove for those seeking unique pieces, adding a cultural dimension to the maritime experience.
As the sun set on Saturday evening, the Kryer’s vessel “Y-Knot”, became the hub for an enjoyable happy hour, setting the stage for a memorable dinner at the renowned Columbia Restaurant.
Sunday afternoon, some members gathered at Marina Jack’s open-air bar and enjoyed cocktails, while hoping to catch the Ravens football game on the big screen. When the big screen was not cooperating the Ravens fans set off on foot, in their Ravens team attire, to find a suitable place to cheer on their team! Other members took a stroll downtown, stopping for lunch on the patio of Mattison’s City Grille, and some decadent ice cream treats at the Fat Donkey!
Sunday evening’s vibrant happy hour was hosted by Wayne and Pam aboard their vessel, “Nauti-Cat”, after which all members headed over for a delectable dinner at the sophisticated Classico Italian Chophouse. Smooth seas and sunny weather made for a perfect voyage home for all members. Our Marina Jack’s Sarasota cruise seamlessly blended nautical exploration with cultural indulgence, leaving members with cherished memories of this waterfront rendezvous.
November Shish-Kabob Picnic at Hidden Island
The Cape Coral Cruise Club held its monthly cruise and picnic at the club’s Hidden Island oasis upstream on the Caloosahatchee River near Alva on November 2nd through November 5th. A total of seven boats made the trip with five cruisers and two dayboats, for members who couldn’t bring their cruise boats. Thirty members attended the Saturday picnic on the island.
Tad and Jane Vaughn were the picnic hosts this month with a great deal of help from Cat and Jim Eisle and several other members.
Boats began arriving at Hidden Island on Thursday, and on Friday, Barb and Joe Byrnes arrived on their Grady White all the way from the Chesapeake Bay, following their seventeen day fall migration to Cape Coral. Two dayboats arrived on Friday as well to join in on the fun and stay with other members on their boats. The island crew took advantage of the day boats, and everyone jumped aboard and traveled up the Caloosahatchee River Friday afternoon to the new tiki bar, The Launch, at the La Belle Yacht Club.
Friday night the members were treated to a wonderful barbecue dinner of pork, chicken and chorizo, cooked by our resident expert barbecue master, Lazaro Martinez. Nobody went to bed hungry!
Prior to lunch time, members played bocce ball, horseshoes, corn hole, and card games in the pavilion. This month’s meal was a build your own shish kabob and build your own ice cream sundae including Jane Vaughn’s secret recipe brownies. The pit barbecue was fired up, and each member managed to cook their own shish kabob with only a few burnt fingers.
Come join the fun!
Lourie Carlson
If you own a boat with full overnight accommodations and would like information on becoming a member of the Cape Coral Cruise Club, please contact our Membership Chairman, Terry Carlson, at 239-770-6955. You can also follow us on Facebook and check out our website www.capecoralcruiseclub.com
