Port of Hvar, Croatia

SAIL CROATIA WITH YACHTING VACATIONS AND THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION

Join Yachting Vacation and the American sailing Association for their third annual flotillas in Croatia.

This is a unique opportunity to explore the hottest "IN" sailing destination in Europe.

We will lead two flotillas this year.  One will be from September 1 through September 8, from the historic Roman city of Split to the World Heritage destination of Dubrovnik.  The second week will be a return trip to Split but via another itinerary thus allowing sailors who wish to participate in the two weeks to discover different islands and places.

Several of our previous flotilla participants who have sailed the BVI and the Caribbean commented that the Croatian Dalmatian Coast beats the BVI hands down.

Click here for details and pricing

Sign up without delay and find out for yourselves why this area has become so popular with sailors, history buffs and with people who appreciate delicious food and divine wines.

We look forward to sailing with you in gorgeous Croatia soon......

Fair winds!

Your friends at Yachting Vacations.

info@yachtingvacations.com

(941) 637-6634

What's Burnt Store?

This is an article that I found on the history of Burnt Store and which explains the origin of the name. I believe (but cannot vouch for it) that this article was originally posted on the web site of the marina where we keep our Charlotte Harbor base, Burnt Store Marina.

"At one time the area was inhabited by the Calusa Indians, who survived on the abundance of indigenous fish and wildlife, plus whatever they could grow in the warm climate. There were more than 2,000 Indians in the area.

Then came the Spaniards, headed by Ponce de Leon, whose attempt to settle was thwarted. He and many of his men lost their lives as the result of wounds received during the skirmish to establish themselves in the area.

That was just the beginning of the settlers’ invasion of the Indian territory. Having lost their land where they were once free to hunt and raise vegetables, little by little most of the Indians left, though a few remained.

Records show that there was a little band of Indians approximately twenty miles north of the Caloosahatchee River, which would put them approximately in the Burnt Store area. The leader of the settlement was Billy Bowlegs, who led an attack during the Seminole Massacre in 1839. Despite being pushed back into limited territory, the Indians lived peacefully side by side with the settlers. It was the settlers who built The Trading Post that not only acted as the Town's General Store, but also served as a gathering place for everything from gossip to politics. The Indians, however, didn't socialize with the settlers, nor they with the Indians...except that is for Old Salty.

Old Salty resided alone in a shack down by the harbor and was known to mind his own business. He was someone who enjoyed his privacy; however, he and Billy Bowlegs managed to get along, learn from each other, and become good friends.


The area was enjoying a peaceful existence, when young Lt. Gil Hartstuff arrived with a band of surveyors. Feeling the power of his new position, he paraded around once Indian territory as though he owned it, asking permission from no one, and not caring what damage he did. Old Salty became concerned about what Lt. Hartstuff was doing and brought it to the young officer's attention. Salty warned of raising his Indian Friend's ire, but the Lieutenant just laughed it off, pegging Salty for nothing more than an old coot.”

The rest of the settlers didn't much care what happened to the Indians – they would be just as happy if the Indians left. If we're going to lose our land,” proclaimed Billy Bowlegs, we won't do it without fighting for it!”

So one dark night, as the legend goes, Billy and his little band stormed The Trading Post and set it on fire. Some of the surveyors spotted the Indians on the run and fired at them, killing some. Many of the settlers lost their lives in the fire.

Billy and a few of his followers managed to get away but knew they had to leave the area. Old Salty hid them for a few days until the situation cooled down, then the two old friends said goodbye.

Old Salty stayed on in the village and the people accepted him more, and listened to his wisdom, knowing that if they had listened before, many would not have lost their lives.

The Trading Post was never rebuilt, but from that day on the road leading to it was know as Burnt Store Road."

There is a lot of history in this area. Pirates used Charlotte Harbor as their base from where to attack the Spanish gold fleets. Useppa Island was a training ground for the Bay of Pigs invasion. Indian shell mounds built by the Calusa Indians dot the islands in the harbor. The "Cheeseburger in Paradise" restaurant on Cabbage Key Island was built on such a shell mound.

To experience the rich history of Charlotte Harbor and some of the best sailing in the U.S., contact us at Yachting Vacations, e-mail us at info@yachtingvacations.com or call us at (800) 447-0080

RED HOT SPECIALS

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Island Packet 32:
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Beneteau 343:
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Delphia 37.3:
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