Color me interested.

Well, you already know I am interested. We might also want to consider Merritt Island for a backup (which ever one has the better forecast)?

I always figure if I'm down there that switching coasts is always an option. A bit of a drive but if you've already invested 8 hours in the project,...

As some of you guys know, I DO LOVE THAT PLACE (Tarpon Springs.)

I actually just returned from Tarpon Springs Saturday after spending most of November and December there. I did sail a loaded up 5.2 on Friday at Howard Park. I'm sure there was a little more wind up here at Lanier on Thursday, but it was warmer, shallower and flatter down there. Anyway.......

I do love that place.

Gene

Been missing Geno! Spreeno too– where dat boy at?

I too am keen for some warm wind. I got a really long fin and am wondering which gets deeper faster– Kelly Park or Fred Howard?
Banana River Resort (very long walk to deep water), Cocoa Beach caters to WSers and has swell sunsets:

Last time I was down in Kelly Park in the spring, the foilers didn't seem to have any problems getting out. Just stay clear of the manatees.

NSFW lyrics

I remember Kelly Park not being very shallow where you normally sail. It seems it was always chest deep or deeper, but there was some shallower water toward the south causeway.

That said, I really like the shallow water, for windsurfing and kiteboarding. That is one of the draws for Hatteras, the miles of waist to knee deep water. And that's why windsurfers can make real progress at Hatteras, try something, fall, step back up on the board and try it again. And shallow water does add a comfort factor when kiting. For Foiling, on a windsurfer or kiteboard, or if you're working on some high jumps, windsurfing and kiting, you'd want deeper water.

Howard Park has very shallow water on the East side, a little deeper water on the North and South ends and on the gulf side it gets deep(er.) With a super low tide, the east side can be a few inches to knee deep. While kites can run in a few inches of water, sometimes it is too shallow to windsurf on the east side of Howard. It was real low tide last Friday when I was sailing my 5.2 and we had to sail on the gulf side of the park, (actually sailed over to Anclote Island.) The kiters were still able to kite on the east side. At high tide, the east side can be waist deep.

A couple of other things, there is a $5 charge at Howard Park, Sunset Beach Park is free. You can buy a 6 months pass for $45 and I think you can actually get 2 passes for that price, but bring your car registrations and pay in cash. Howard park has more windsurfers and Sunset has more kiteboarders normally depending on the wind direction. East wind is the worst direction. Wind is usually front related, kind of like atlanta, except sometimes the fronts dont make it all the way down. It's usually 10 to 15 degrees warmer, but bring a wet suit. When the weather is really warm, sometimes a sea breeze will kick in, bring the big stuff. Tarpon Springs is not Hatteras. The only access to water in Tarpon Springs is pretty much these two parks, unless you own water front property. There are places to eat but Tarpon Springs is not known for its night life. The Pinellas Trail is a 45 mile rails to trail bike path if your into biking, the Sponge docks has Greek food and is the tourist center, I do not know of any good tent camping in the immediate area, but there are RV parks. there are several hotels on HWY 19. It is about an 8 hour drive from Atlanta, depending on the number of stops. There are a lot of Canadian windsurfers/kiteboarders down in Jan/Feb/March, most of them are nice. There are still local Windsurfers but like Atlanta, not as many as there used to be. You can take kiteboarding lessons, and there is a local windsurf, kite, sup shop in Largo, Water Sports West.

Enough said.

Gene

Nice report Gene. Maybe that could go into places to sail.

Based on the weather cooperating, I plan to go as well. Thanks to Gene for the detailed guide to Fred Howard park.

I am up for this trip. Guess I will get in the water before my March goal.

Just returned from Islamorada, luckily got 7 nice days out of 9. The flats were perfect, 20 knots and hardly a ripple! We've stopped at Fred Howard several times this year and it's a nice park with good conditions for both sports. With a good 3-day forecast, "twist my arm" let's go!

I'm waiting for you.

Hope you are having fun. It's a balmy 22 degrees here.

Looks great down at Fred Howard Park, but what about that shoulder? I thought you were sidelined from sports till Spring.

Since you're already there, can you recommend lodging close to the Park, a place that Gail approves of?

It is so bright down here that I don't even have grey hair anymore. I love Fl. and what it can do for you.

I thought David sold his van when he bought his luxury SUV?

Gene

Windfinder shows one day that looks good at Tarpon Springs. That would be Tuesday the 17th. 17 to 23 SW and 72 degrees. That's it only one day.

So now what?

Isn't blowing on the east side ie Cocoa?

http://windmapper.com/forecast/cocoa_beach%2C_fl

I don't see much wind forecast on either coast until, Wed & Thur. of next week. Then, according Windyty, Fred Howard Park will be in the S-SW wind band. It's too far out to count on the forecast, but worth keeping an eye on.