CCCC Visits Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina, Matanzas Pass, Gulf Coast
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is a group of dedicated cruisers who always provide unique reports from the marinas they visit. Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR and voted Best Small Marina in 2017, overlooks the westerly banks of the Mantanzas Pass channel, west of marker #13.
PINK SHELL CRUISE FEBRUARY 20th – 23rd 2018
By Captain John Queen, Past Commodore, Cape Coral Cruise Club
The Cape Coral Cruise Club has monthly cruises to a variety of destinations in Southwest Florida. For the month of February 2018, that destination was the popular Pink Shell Resort and Marina on Fort Myers Beach. There was a super turnout with 17 club boats making the trip, ranging in size from 30 to 50 feet. Most boats arrived Tuesday, February 20th with fairly decent weather on their bow. Many boats waited until slack tide before arriving, as we know how tricky docking can be at Pink Shell marina in strong tidal currents. Dock master Dave and his assistant Craig did an excellent job getting boats into slips safe and sound.
Tuesday afternoon was a time for relaxing and catching up with other club members. Walking down the marina dock it was great seeing a fleet of white fiberglass boats sporting the yellow Club burgee.
At 4:30 PM, the members gathered at the marina deck for our traditional Docktail hour with chips, pretzels and the like. The marina accommodated our need to have seating for 34 club members as they already had set up tables and chairs on the marina lawn. Club members converged at 6:00 PM for our scheduled dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs and plenty of side dishes. It’s always amazing how much love goes into the preparation of food in this club – members never go home hungry.
After dinner, club members anxiously waited for me to describe the fun and games portion of the evening. I had told them previously that we were going to play “The Pathetic Peanut Game”. As club members watched, 50 shelled peanuts and 50 Styrofoam packing peanuts were placed in the center of a large round table. Two large plastic Dixie cups sat opposite each other on the table. I explained that the object of the game was to get as many peanuts into their team’s cup within a two minute period. Simple enough, eh?
Of course, my silly made-up games are never that simple. “Oh by the way”, “you must keep your hands behind your back and only use a straw to lift the peanuts!!” I demonstrated how using suction with a straw would allow players to move the peanuts. Each team had two minutes to lift as many peanuts to its cup, the team with the most points would win. (Styrofoam peanuts were worth 1 point each, shelled peanuts were worth 5 points each, and two specially painted peanuts were worth 25 points each.)
Let the fun begin! It was a wild sight watching these seasoned boaters trying to move peanuts via the suction of a straw. I wouldn’t have it any other way! Each team worked feverishly to beat the score of the previous team. When it was all over, the winning team prevailed with a score of 158 points. Prizes were awarded to the top three teams and everyone had a good time. A special ring in the shape of a peanut was also awarded to the top finisher.
The next morning, we prepared breakfast on our boat for 30 people consisting of scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, and juice at the tables on the marina lawn. After breakfast, the next fun game began. Everyone learned it we would be a scavenger hunt. There were 10 questions or riddles to solve, all based on objects found in and around Pink Shell marina and resort property. The winner would be based on accuracy and speed. The weather was perfect, and after receiving their list of questions, couples scattered in every direction.
I thought it would be a while before anyone returned with their answer sheets, so I was surprised when some of them were being returned within half an hour. Within an hour or so, every couple had turned in their answer sheets for ‘grading’. All were advised that results and winners would be announced just prior to dinner that night. The rest of the day was spent by club members at the pool, shelling at the beach, shopping at Times Square, or simply ‘chillaxing’ on their boat. Just prior to dinner the results of the scavenger hunt were revealed with prizes awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams.
We usually have a group dinner on our cruises where other club members will join us by land yacht. This outing was no exception as we had 38 club members dine at Jack’s Farm to Fork restaurant just across the street in the resort. Everyone had a great dining experience and left will full stomachs.
Thursday morning, we prepared another breakfast for the boaters, and again carted everything out to the tables set up on marina lawn. We could not have had better winter Florida weather. The rest of the day was spent shopping, shelling, swimming, playing card games, or just plain relaxing.
Thursday night, club members headed off in different directions for dinner. On our club cruises, we usually designate Thursday night as ‘on your own’. Most of the boaters ended up at a handful of different restaurants along Estero Blvd.
Friday morning came too soon, and everyone got underway for the journey home. Some boaters left early in the morning while others were in no hurry to depart. The Pink Shell cruise was another great boating experience for members of the Cape Coral Cruise Club.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is open to new members who own a boat with overnight accommodations and reside in the Cape Coral / Ft. Myers area. For membership information please contact Phil Kryger at 239-541-0236. Read additional Club information on its website, www.c-c-c-c.org Like us on Facebook.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina
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