DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG
Sleepy St. Pete has come alive! The marina where your vessel is berthed is convenient to all downtown restaurants shopping, museums.The pier is a short walk or trolley ride, take advantage of the rooftop view of the bay for a sunset cocktail.

ST. PETERSBURG & TAMPA BAY
The Tampa Bay Area is indeed a cruising mecca. You could spend a whole week’s vacation in the sheltered environs of the 300-square mile Tampa Bay with a different anchorage or dockside restaurant each night.

HOLIDAY INN SUNSPREE RESORT
A motel with docks, pools, restaurant, bar and tennis courts. It is located in southern St. Pete and is a 2-3 hour sail from our docks. Often their docks are full; call on channel 16 or 71 to verify available space.

SUNSHINE SKYWAY BRIDGE
This famous bridge is at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The main spans are used for your adventure to the south with the “Dick Meisner” span to the north of the main span used for west and north-bound cruising.

HEADING NORTH

CLEARWATER AND CALADESI ISLAND
You can come in at Clearwater Pass and go to the Clearwater Beach Municipal docks. This facility offers all the needed amenities for the cruising yachtsman, from silver sand beaches to a variety of night life activities. The Clearwater Yacht Club is also steps away. Just north of Clearwater, you may enjoy a quiet and unspoiled anchorage with wonderful swimming at Caladesi Island.

TARPON SPRINGS AND ANCLOTE KEY
A fishing and sponge diving village, featuring shops along the waterfront which sell sponges and other interesting items. Dockage available.

HEADING SOUTH

EGMONT KEY
Egmont Key is an island that divides Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Anchoring should be limited to daytime only because of wind direction changes. This key is a great spot to spend the afternoon swimming, sunning on the beaches, and exploring the interior of the island. The island is home to the Coast Guard lighthouse and the Tampa Bay Harbor Pilots who pilot the ships into the Port of Tampa.

DESOTO POINT
At the mouth of the Manatee River is a very popular anchorage which is near a beach and some lovely homes. You may anchor either on the southern or northern shore, however, in anchoring along the north side you must contend with the tidal flow. If you anchor in the southern cove, you will find a nature walk and museum at the DeSoto Memorial Exhibit. DeSoto Point is approximately 17 miles from our dock.

THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY
(ICW) HEADED SOUTH
You will find adequate depths, natural beauty and quiet cruising in a well-marked channel with protected anchorages and superb places to dine ashore including the Seafood Shack, Moores’ Stone Crab Restaurant, and Longboat Key Moorings (ever thought of a gourmet cruise?) If your choice is the Gulf, you should go out Southwest Pass from Tampa Bay. Your opportunities to come back to the Intracoastal Waterway are: LONGBOAT PASS (8NM), VENICE (31NM), BOCA GRANDE PASS (58 NM). These mileage figures are approximate and are taken from the turning buoy at Southwest Pass, which is at the entrance to Tampa Bay. The distance from our docks to the turning buoy is approximately 19 NM. One should stay in the ICW except where marked clearly on the charts. The depths are listed at mean low water and we have a rise and fall of tides of not much more than 3 feet (refer to the tide tables for this area). Cruising south along the ICW, check your charts regarding bridge openings. The bridge tenders monitor channel 9 on the VHF. Going south from Tampa Bay, just on the northeast side of the second bridge, you will find THE SEAFOOD SHACK A good restaurant with downstairs bar, they also offer overnight transient docking.

MOORE'S STONE CRAB RESTAURANT
Just south of Longboat Pass, try not to miss this spot! You may tie up for dinner and then anchor in a nice spot just south of the dock. When you tie up, tell the hostess what time you wish to dine and she will call you at the boat. If they have room, you may want to spend the night at the dock.

LONGBOAT KEY MOORINGS
This is a fine resort on Longboat Key; golf, tennis, swimming pool, bicycle rentals, spa and sauna, and a restaurant & deli are just some of its numerous amenities. Fuel docks, ice, and groceries will get you set for the next leg of your trip. There is a small shopping village nearby. Reservations are usually a must on holiday weekends.

SARASOTA
Marina Jacks is a large downtown marina that offers transient dockage, fine food, fuel, laundry, etc. There is a dockside bar and some interesting shopping. Also in the Sarasota area is the Ringling Museum of Art, Circus Museum, and St. Armand’s Circle with its fine restaurants and shops.

VENICE
Slip space is available just inside the jetty alongside the Crow’s Nest restaurant and also at the city dock to the south at Higel Marine Park, just off the ICW. There is no charge for city dockage, however, there is no water or electricity. The Venice Yacht Club is available if you are a member of a reciprocating club.

LEMON BAY
There are good anchorages in Lemon Bay. In your chart briefing we will be happy to point out some good spots to anchor. This area is among the nicest you will encounter on your cruise along the ICW.

BOCA GRANDE
This quaint, turn of the century community is located on Gasparilla Island (named after the infamous pirate Jose’ Gaspar). Boca Grande Channel is well marked and straightforward, providing easy access in all weather conditions. Whidden’s Seafood Market, Pink Elephant and the Gasparilla Inn are popular establishments.

CAYO COSTA - NORTH CAPTIVA
CAPTIVA - SANIBEL ISLAND
Cayo Costa is uninhabited, tropical and probably one of the most beautiful of the west coast “barrier islands.” Beach combing and the famous Florida West Coast sunsets make it a great exploration stop. South of Captiva Pass is North Captiva. Other than a few private homes, it is a sister island to Cayo Costa. At the northern tip of Captiva Island on Redfish Pass is South Seas Island Resort, a world famous retreat originally built for yachtsmen. It offers dockage, showers, shops, laundry, five restaurants, tennis, golf, fishing guides, windsurfers, jetskis, bicycles, etc. Miles of sugar sand beach is less than a block from the yacht harbor. There is something for everyone here, truly a first class resort. A few blocks from the resort entrance is the Bubble Room Restaurant, a unique restaurant with superb food, or have a glass of wine on the beach in front of the Mucky Duck and watch the sun set. Sanibel Island is known around the world for its wonderful shelling beaches and the J. N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge with it’s abundant bird life.

PINE ISLAND SOUND
Fifteen miles long and four miles wide, Pine Island Sound has uncounted islands and keys protected by the barrier islands to the west and Pine Island to the east. It has unlimited anchorage possibilities, gunkhole exploring, and solitude. In contrast to South Seas Island Resort is CABBAGE KEY, made popular by Jimmy Buffet’s many visits. Its “Dollar Bar” restaurant and laid-back, relaxed ambiance make it a favorite watering hole for gold-plated motor yachts, local fishermen and ocean ranging sailboats alike – a unique island. South Seas and the Pine Island area are a great southern destination for a seven-day charter; it’s about a two-day trip home.

CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER - EAST TO FT. MYERS
Many islands and keys make the whole river a secure all-weather anchorage. Beautiful riverfront homesites, the Thomas Edison home and many marina facilities make the river relaxing and easy.

FORT MYERS BEACH
(Estero Island & San Carlos Island)
Good, protected anchorages in the center of the commercial boating activity. Purchase fresh gulf shrimp or stone crabs right off the boats or sample the menu of the Snug Harbor Restaurant – free dockage with dinner reservations.

SAN CARLOS BAY
San Carlos Bay offers peaceful cruising with several protected overnight anchorages in the lee of Sanibel Island or the mainland. Sanibel Island Causeway Bridge is the exit into the Gulf to commence the 26-mile sail to Naples.

NAPLES
The prominent fishing pier makes for an easy landfall to Gordon’s Pass, the entrance to beautiful Naples. The luxurious winter homes lining the canals are quite impressive. City dockage and restaurants are situated at the north end of Naples Bay.

MARCO ISLAND
Marco, just seven miles south of the Gordon Pass entrance, is a mecca of resort living and offers good marina and resort facilities. Nature lovers may wish to take the waterway to the National Audubon Societies’ 5,000 acre sanctuary at Rookery Bay. It is deserted except for alligators, raccoons, bald eagles, osprey, pelicans, dolphins and manatees. Alternately, take the waterway further south to Coon Key Pass, which leads to the unique Ten Thousand Islands.

TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS
This 56 – mile stretch of coastline consists of uncounted, unnamed, and remote islands. Aids to navigation are rare. This is a true haven for birds, wildlife and the sailor seeking peace and solitude.

EVERGLADES CITY
The trip up the Barron River from Indian Key to Everglades City is an easy one. The Barron River Resort Marina is your best bet for full service. Fuel, provisions, and ice are available as well as a restaurant within walking distance.

SHARK RIVER
Six-foot draft may be carried 12 miles up the Shark River waterway to the heart of the Everglades National Park. For those cruisers who like to get away from it all while surrounded by abundant bird and wildlife, this is a trip you will not forget! The tallest mangroves in North America, 60 feet, are found just as they were when Florida was born.

THE FLORIDA KEYS
Complete variety is offered in the famous chain of 150 small coral islands known collectively as the Keys or the American Out Island. The clear, green waters afford superb snorkeling over the only living coral reef bordering the Continental U.S. The Keys offer all facilities including restaurants ranging from sophisticated resorts to simple fishing lodges.

DRY TORTUGAS
In settled weather, the Dry Tortugas is a beautiful offshore destination for experienced sailors. Located 220 miles south of St. Petersburg, 93 miles SW of Naples/Marco, and 75 miles west of Key West, the Dry Tortugas was designated a National Park in 1935. Visit the massive Ft. Jefferson and try to imagine how such a huge structure could have been built so far offshore so long ago. See where Dr. Mudd was imprisoned, snorkel the wrecks and beds of coral formations in the areas around the islands. You’ll see tropical fish as well as grouper, barracuda, lobster, starfish, conch and many other varieties of sea life. Loggerhead Key Light stands sentinel and welcomes mariners with its powerful light. We require that you take the Tortugas cruise in no less than 14 days. Please keep in mind there are no services available in the Dry Tortugas.