Roland's Friendship Cruises
Roland’s Friendship cruise is a gift from me to you and a unique
way to help the less fortunate in Melbourne, Fl.
Roland’s Indian River Lagoon Friendship Cruise:
I have been boating and sailing for as long as I can remember. In Cuba we used to row leaky wooden dinghies in Playa Juan Vicente – the beach and home away from home both my parents’ families enjoyed throughout the year.
My love for being in and on the water continued in my teens. I was barely 19 years old when I purchased my first motorboat – a 12ft Achillies inflatable with a 7 hp Sears outboard. In my twenties, thirties and forties I owned numerous motor and sailboats. I accomplished my lifelong dream of living aboard a boat after my son graduated high school and joined the Navy.
For the last twelve years I’ve lived aboard multiple motorboats and sailboats. For the last four years I’ve lived aboard my 34 ft twin diesel engine Sabre Yacht fast trawler. Sabre Yachts has been building sailboats and motorboats in Maine for 57 years. The perfect motorboat for coastal cruising.
I credit my love for sailing/boating and the beauty and peacefulness of the Indian River Lagoon and its wildlife, for my recovery from the most emotionally difficult and challenging time – the last five years of my life. What better way to pay that gift forward than to share it with my friends.
Cruise with me through the beautiful
Indian River Lagoon!
Join me for a leisurely scenic cruise from home at Waterline Marina in Melbourne north, under the Eau Gallie Causeway bridge. We’ll turn east to Dragon’s Point and the Eau Gallie basin. Known for its deep water, the Eau Gallie basin, at the very south tip of Merritt Island, is known as a playground for dolphins, manatees and the legendary Dragons Point – one of Roland’s favorite anchorages and the resting place of <Annie the Dragon>. It is also the home of the Eau Gallie Yacth Club and Mather’s Bridge—a historic turnstile bridge and one of the unique landmarks of the Banana River.
We will turn north on the Banana River, hail Mathers Bridge to open and we’ll cruise through to the south end of the Grand Canal in Indian Harbour Beach, where you’ll get a bird’s eye-view of some of Brevard County’s most spectacular multi-million-dollar homes on Lansing Island and Tortoise Island – considered the most expensive and exclusive neighborhoods in Brevard County.
We’ll cruise the grand canal to Samson’s Island Nature Park. Only accessible by water, Samsom’s Island Nature Park, nestled amongst the spoil islands on the west side of Satellite Beach is a nature lover’s perfect camping paradise. We’ll then turn west through one of the two cuts that allows accessibility to Sampson’s Island by boat only and catch the Banana River south to Mather’s Bridge.
This stretch of the Banana River is well known for dolphin and manatee sightings.
Weather and time permitting, we’ll drop the hook by Dragon’s Point, settle in for snacks, and spend some time enjoying the lagoon and dolphin watching—so get your cameras ready! The adventure ends with a leisurely cruise back to Waterline Marina, enjoying the scenery and good company along the way.
This cruise is Roland’s gift to you. You and up to three friends are invited as Roland’s guests. We ask that each of you bring one bag of non-perishable food items—see the list of suggested items <here>.
Roland will greet your group at the Marina parking lot and transfer the items directly to his car. The items will be donated to St. Vincent DePaul charities for distribution to food insecure families in Brevard County.
Roland will provide life-preservers for everyone onboard and get you and your guests familiar with Widget’s safety equipment, head, galley and upper helm station – the best place to enjoy the ride.
Separate tax-deductible donations to assist with Regalitos Foundation’s overhead and concert expenses are welcomed and can be made below: