06/22/2006
A sailing trip to Cayo Costa, Florida
By Betsy Perdichizzi 

Joe Douglas of Goodland owns a yellow-hulled Westerly sailboat named Jiver. He sailed it to Cayo Costa despite strong winds and rough seas. 
His latest trip to Cayo Costa was written up in the quarterly newsletter that he edits for the American Westerly Newsletter. Here are his comments regarding Australian pines:

In the past, we had encountered wild pigs. But this time it was quiet. It was an interesting place, but I confess that alone it's not much fun. The island supports a state park with lots of room between the few tents. At one time, lofty Australian pines afforded shade to the tents and picnic benches. The park service and environmentalists - in the name of wiping out invasive trees - have cut them all down, leaving only ugly stumps still standing. There are indeed some trees and plants that need to be eliminated because they are poisonous or grow too readily, or have undesirable characteristics, but Australian pines are not one of them.

I think the Australian pines are benign. They are tall and graceful, and appearing on islands generally covered with dreary mangroves, they provide a welcome relief to the flat skyline. Where we live on Marco Island, they used to provide a useful landmark to navigate by. The timber is very hard, rather like maple and looks like it, too. I have made stools and countertops from the wood in the past but it is hard on tools. So the wood is not used commercially, although it is attractive.

(Resource American Westerly Owners Newsletter June - Aug. 2006)

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