What's New at Indian River Cruises

MAKE IT A DATE!

2009-09-23T16:23:00.003-04:00

MAKE IT A DATE!

This private charter for two departs the dock 2 hours before sunset. Complimentary Pizza & Wings, soft drinks and bottled water.
Adult beverages available for purchase $225 + tax

Did they say free PIZZA and WINGS??

2009-09-08T10:35:00.003-04:00

Wow........... free PIZZA and WINGS when you book the boat with SIX what a deal........

Summer sailing specials, Free Beer and Wine when you book the boat with six!!! Including all dinner charters

2009-08-26T17:49:00.008-04:00

Summer sailing on the Indian River Lagoon. Check out our website for our new dinner options

Spinnaker is up and flying high! Spring specials to include Happy Hour Sunset Charters, free beer and wine when you charter the boat with six.

2009-05-04T17:20:00.009-04:00

Not sure if I like this sailing stuff they always make me go says GIGI

Taking pictures from the deck

Spinnaker is up and flying high! Spring specials to include Happy Hour Sunset Charters, free beer and wine when you charter the boat with six.

Spinnaker is up and flying high! Spring specials to include Happy Hour Sunset Charters, free beer and wine when you charter the boat with six.

2009-04-24T09:29:00.016-04:00

Wedding gitters

Arriving at Sunset

Trying to keep clear of the regatta

My crew always on a break.

Toasting a birthday

Spring specials to include Happy Hour Sunset Charters, free beer and wine when you charter the boat with six.
Click each picture to enlarge and read story.

Spring time sailing aboard the S/V Double Shaafted, A week in pictures!

2009-04-14T12:39:00.015-04:00

Celebrating their 27th wedding aniversary

Spring specials to include Happy Hour Sunset Charters, free beer and wine when you charter the boat with six.

Click each picture to enlarge and read story.

Spring time sailing aboard the S/V Double Shafted

2009-04-07T15:02:00.005-04:00

Spring specials to include Happy Hour Sunset Charters, free beer and wine when you charter the boat with six.

April 6 2009
Spring has started out great here at Indian River Cruises. First mate Joe is off on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday so all the bookings are taking place around those days. Second mate Mary is filling in on the others. Thursday's charter was great. With four guests aboard we headed south with a strong southwesterly breeze on our nose. We set both the main and the head sails and were able to make it to red 86 which is about 4.5 miles south of our starting point. We jibed the boat then set the sails for a starboard reach back north while witnessing another Indian River Cruises perfect sunset sail. Saturday’s charter with four repeat guests from the Beach Place Guest Houses started out with the wind blowing from the north about 7 knots so we went through the barge canal looking for the wild life this area is known for. The Rosettes are nesting along with all the other native birds this time of year. On our way back we were treated to a slow downwind sail that allowed them to bake in the sun and have lunch. Arriving back at the dock we had to get the boat ready for our sunset charter with four guests and by this time the wind had shifted and started blowing out of the southeast at about 12 knots; just enough for a nice reach south to green 83. After our final tack we were able to sail on a starboard reach northbound while the guests were treated to a pod of dolphin corralling fish and slapping the surface of the water; an attempt to catch their dinner. What fond memories they will have.

Spring Break 2009

2009-03-23T13:15:00.010-04:00

Spring Break specials to include Happy Hour Sunset Charters free beer and wine when you charter the boat with six

March 17 2009
Great St. Patrick’s Day sunset charter with three repeat customers celebrating a birthday. Because of a strong north east wind we decided to head north to the barge canal and see what we could find in the way of wild life and get out of the wind for a while. As we passed by the roockery we were treated to a large group of Rosette Spoonbills nesting and sharing their space with all the other local birds that fly up to this overnight retreat. As we headed south we set our sails on a port reach and watched a great sunset.
Thursday’s and Friday’s sunset charters were both full. Second mate Mary worked on Thursday and Friday. First mate Joe got home from his New York turn just in time to jump onboard the boat and help Mary out. The Condon’s, some of our favorite customers were back for more first class treatment provided by the crew of the Double Shaafted. Docking the boat was a bit tight after the dock master tied a large catamaran on an adjacent dock which required us to maneuver into our dock ever so slowly.
Saturday afternoon’s charter featured repeat customers from Whitley West condos (next to the marina) who chartered the boat as part of their mothers 90th birthday celebration. Having twelve people in the mix who all wanted to go out on the boat presented a unique challenge so we had to split them up and take six at a time. The birthday girl and her sisters got to go out on the first sail and were thrilled beyond belief. These great gals gave us a brief history lesson on the great depression and reminded us how much more they had to endure compared to our current economic situation. The grandkids and great grandkids were next and had just as much fun but for different reasons. Whereas the older crowd preferred to stay in the wheelhouse, the younger crowd braved the elements to hang out front.
Saturday evening’s sunset charter with repeat customers from the Beach Place Guest Houreach we got to see the sky clear up and witnessed a beautiful sunset. What a treat after a long week of sailing, LOL.ses started off a little late. After clouds moved in and dropped a little rain we had to quickly get the boat dried off and ready for these special guests. Two missed the boat after getting the dates messed up. The boat was catered with subs, wraps, cheese and crackers and wings from Ryan’s Pizza. We departed the dock at 6pm and headed north to the Merritt Island bird sanctuary and were again treated to the migratory birds positioning for the night. After setting the sails and heading south on a port down wind

LIFT OFF OF STS119 "GO DISCOVERY"

2009-03-16T15:10:00.010-04:00

We have room for three on the sunset cruise on St Patricks day. Three for the price of two. And we are continuing our six for the price of five Mon-Thur on all charters except dinner.

March 16, 2009

After yet another delay, NASA finally managed to launch the shuttle. Yipee!

On Thursday of last week we took the DoubleShAAfted out to do some practice maneuvers with second mate Mary and a friend of hers. A great time was had by all and Mary is getting better by the cruise.

Friday’s Sunset Dinner Charter with six repeat customers turned out to be a very nice trip. After departing the dock at 5pm and motor sailing south along beautiful Rockledge Drive, we tacked three times in a 17 knot wind followed by one jibe for our long run north. Our passengers retreated to the salon where a catered dinner awaited them. First mate Joe played host, just having flown in from a two day trip to San Juan.

Saturday’s sunset charter hosted winter guests from the Beach Place Guest Houses. They were treated to a great sail south, albeit a bit windy. We tacked so many times I lost count. Wind or no wind, no one strayed from the forward deck area. The scenery was just too breathtaking. They were having a blast. We tacked one last time, fell off and headed for home while watching a great sunset.

Sunday’s on again off again Shuttle flight finally got going. Friends and family aboard this time. With a launch time of 7:42pm we left the dock at 5:30 pm and headed south under power into a strong 22 knot breeze. After about three miles we turned around and set the jib for a downwind sail to a point just north of the 528 causeway so the customers could get a unobstructed view of the shuttle launch. What a show! At lift off, just as the sun was setting, the sky turned a bright orange and the shuttle shot off leaving a trail of white smoke that turned orange from the reflecting sun. After the launch we made a beeline for the Marina, arriving just before the river turned into I-95.

Spring has (almost) sprung

2009-03-09T20:43:00.010-04:00

Book our afternoon sail (1400-1600) and six sail for the price of five. Repeat customers enjoy complimentary beer and wine.

March 9, 2009

Spring is in the air in Cocoa and we are off to a good start. Saturdays’ sunset charter was a great ride with second mate Mary crewing; Joe was visiting friends in St Louis and couldn’t make the trip. The wind was blowing about 15 knots SSE which meant we got to motor sail along Rockledge Dr; viewing all of the historic homes for the first part of the trip and tacking three times to our half way point, then heading north after setting the spinnaker for the last leg home .
Sunday was a busy day with three charters; lunch afternoon and sunset, all three full. First mate Joe got to work all three of these charters. On the lunch trip we got to visit with an old friend from TWA and her family. With no wind we motor sailed along Historic Rockledge Dr for the first half of the trip but managed a great sail on the way home.
Our afternoon sail was a little more exciting in the wind department; SSE 15 knots after motor sailing south to our halfway point with a full set of sails and, after tacking three times, we jibed and began our run downwind back to the marina.
For the sunset sail we were treated to the same SSE wind and 3x repeat customers who charted the boat. On these private charters we allow our (repeat) guests to provide their own catering if they wish. They brought ten pounds of jumbo shrimp, the size of dinner plates, cheese and crackers, cookies and wine. They were treated to a great sail along Rockledge Dr. After tacking three times to the half way point we jibed and headed for home with the sails set wing in wing for this downwind leg; still too windy for the spinnaker. Our guests got to witness the sunset just as we were clearing the 520 causeway with Cocoa Village as the back drop. Like all good cruises, it took a pry bar to get the customers from the deck chairs to the dock.

Spring Time Sailing

2009-03-02T10:38:00.009-05:00

February 22-28 2009

Spring your clocks ahead this Sunday morning and enjoy our added afternoon sail, 2pm-4pm untill the end of November. Book the boat with six and only pay for five.

The week started out cold and windy. On Monday evenings’ sunset sail, second mate Mary and I took three past customers out for a fast ride on the river north to the Barge canal to look at wild life and get out of the wind for a few minutes. This was a good opportunity to see some bird life including the elusive Roseate Spoonbill and three raccoons foraging along the river. After getting lots of pictures we continued south with a partially rolled out jib to control our speed. Our guests got to witness a beautiful sunset on this last leg back into the marina.
Thursday, second mate Mary crewed a lunch charter. Our passengers, two from the Beach Place Guest Houses and a couple from Patrick AFB got to experience a delightful lunch on the forward deck and a great sail south along Rockledge Drive with a full set of sails; the wind blowing ten knots from the SSE meant three tacks with a run north back to the Marina.
The weekend finally arrived, and, after dropping off a good friend at the airport at 7am we readied the boat for a lunch trip. First mate Joe, being back for the weekend from his job at JetBlue, got to work his magic with the guests. A family of 6 that had all come together for a visit was treated to a warm, windy day on the river just before the cold front moved in. Other than our Sunday weather cancellation, the week went very well.

FAIR WEATHER SAILING THIS WEEKEND

2009-02-23T09:49:00.005-05:00

Repeat customers always receive complimentary beer and wine with parties of six.
Book the boat Fri-Sun with six and receive a complimentary cheese platter.

Adventures on the Indian River lagoon

2009-02-23T09:32:00.007-05:00

February 16-22 2009

The week started out with boat maintenance. First, the shower sump; what a mess! Then around to the neighbors’ boats giving them a hand. Andy needed help running cable for his new radar. I had to crawl into some tight spaces on his boat to find the correct pathway for the cable. Paul needed help with an engine over heat issue. Turned out to be a clogged heat exchanger, which resulted in a Kool-Aid solution flush. Many thanks to the Hatteras forum for this guarded secret procedure.
Wednesday’s lunch sail with six passengers turned out to be great. We departed the dock at 1110 and returned at 1310. Four of our passengers were repeat customers and two were last minute customers from the Beach Place Guest Houses. The wind was out of the south and blowing about 17knots so we put a reef in the main sail and headed south under power so we could take advantage of the wind on our backs and a warmer ride north back to the marina.
Our sunset sail on Sunday evening was full. Previous local customers brought a couple friends with them to experience the magic of Indianrivercruises.com! We sailed south on a reach, our speed about 6.6 knots. After a quick tack we sailed back north close hauled and not as fast. Our guests were delighted by a pod of playful dolphin that swam close to the boat.
We just added two new pages to our website. “SAILING SCHOOL”, for those who want to learn how to sail aboard a 47’ catamaran and “ BOAT DELIVERIES”, for those who would like their boats repositioned along the east coast or Bahamas.

All in all, we had a great week. We got the chance to visit with some past customers and make new friends along the way. What a business!

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

2009-02-20T11:12:00.006-05:00

Book the Double Shaafted for SIX and Receive Free Beer and Wine THIS WEEKEND

2009-02-16T17:52:00.002-05:00

This is Joe before a big day of charter work at Indian River Cruises and he loves working on all of the holidays at least that is what he said on the application before he started.

A Very Busy Weekend at Indian River Cruises

2009-02-16T14:43:00.001-05:00

Friday started out with very good weather. And a Lunch Sail Charter with a party of four. Mary Angelini got to crew this trip which went very well. After A short break for lunch we had a private charter for two which turned out to be a wedding proposal, and he got the answer he wanted. Mary also got to work this charter and she got many memorable photos for this soon to be newly wed couple. Joe was on standby for the BJ so he could not go on these charters.

Saturday also started out with very good weather west wind. And three Charters for the day! And With the help of Joe. Lunch charter for four people that were celebrating an anniversary. Than without any break we turned the boat around and did an afternoon charter (1330-1500) for six people from the Beach Place Guest Houses and they all had a wonderful time. Again after a quick turn at the Marina with four people we were out again with the sails set and the wind in our faces and cocktails in our guest's hands all were happy as the sun set in the west and we arrived back at the dock after a great trip.

Sunday was an overcast day lots of wind out of the north, and a lunch charter on tap with a family of five (three young children) The young girl wanted to take Gigi home with her ! But that wasn't going to happen we got to take a tour of the Barge Canal then sat the sails for a fast run down to the 520 bridge and back to the Marina, another uneventful sail.

First mate Joe get's his wings

2009-01-29T20:29:00.002-05:00

Yes he has done it, After 22 days of training at Jet Blue U Joe got his wings. He will be flying to the Caribbean, Central and South America for the BJ. He is very excited about the whole thing, finally going to have someone in the family with good medical insurance with domestic partner benefits and all the flying privileges as well. He has our vacation itinerary for the next year already.

The buisness will keep sailing on with alternate crew members who have been working with us in the past, or new people I have been inteviewing. Joe will be doing alot of night flights so he will be able to work day charters and our sunset charters.