Conference unifix::sailing

Marco Island is kind of nice.  My wife and I were there for about 10
days and its quite restful with beautiful sunsets, warm (very) waters
and good skin diving.  Naples is across the bridge on the mainland, so
its not that much of an island.  The only hotel on the island is the
Marriot, but its very nice and its rates were OK.  Naples is loaded with
restaraunts and shops.  Its quite a contrast from Ft Lauderdale during
college week. 

Around sunset every day we would go swimming. After a couple of days
we noticed that some large fins gliding through the water (dub in Jaws
music...) about 50 yards from us.  Apparently the porpoises make a regular
appearance that time every day, and after a while you forget they are 
there, just as you do the uncountable pelican population.

Its south of Fort Meyers, about 3 hours drive from St Pete.  No idea what
that would be by sail.

Rick

We chartered out of St Pete a couple years ago. We spent a couple
days on Tampa Bay and then went down the Waterway to Sarasota.
While we were on Tampa Bay we [icked up a slip at a Condo devel.
on the South sohore of the Bay. They had a restaurant on the beach
and letmetellya, the sunsets were a beautiful start to dinner. If 
you,ve never seen a major dredging operation they run a continous
operation in Tampa Bay that I found fascinating. I've been told my
tastes are a litle bizarre!! 

We didn't go outside at all. Only one pass (inlet) was open at the time
and after I got the directions on how to go through from the outside
I was too chicken to chance it!! Local knowledge is critical if you're 
going to use the passes, don't trust the charts. 

Docking was an adventure too. I'm used to floats and they use piles down
there. Once you get the hang of it it's not too bad but I suggest you 
practice somewhere before venturing into unfamiliar places.

There's a restaurant just north of Sarasota that has a pet dolphin. You
can pick up a slip there for the night or fordinner and have a chat with the dolphin. 

The waterway guide was very helpful with marinas, restaurants et al and
I recommend you get it before you go down there. 

Bridges!! Each one seems to have its own rules or schedule and this can be 
important in your plans. I saw one boat try to intimidate a bridge operator

continuation of .2 

The bridge operator syuck to his schedule and the boat almost lost a mast.

Going aground. Things are shallow down there so pay attention to where you
are. Getting off was fairly easy though. 

didn't mean to run on like this.

What kind of boat will you be sailing? When?

Ed

If you plan to get as far down as the Everglades, get in touch.  I spent three
winters leading Outward Bounders through the labyrinth waterways, and there's 
quite a lot to see.
		     John.

as is said in the Bahamas, you haven't REALLY cruised until you run
aground.

We will be chartering a Valiant 40 (...pant...pant...drool)!
and hope to get offshore to let her fly for a while. Therefore the points
regarding local knowlege on inlets are well taken.

We should be getting a "Cruising Guide to the Florida West Coast" in
the mail soon.

Are there any well marked/dreged inlets into the waterway about 70 nm S. 
of St. Pete's?

Paul

The Charlotte Harbor area is about 60 miles south of Tampa Bay. I
chartered a Tayana 42 three Xmas ago out of Burnt Store Marina, on 
the east side of the bay.

The pass into Charlotte is well marked and suitable for deep draft
vessels.  I believe it is ok in any weather.  Once inside, you can 
cruise the bay or head south along the ICW to some spectacular barrier
islands, LaCosta, Captiva(s), and Sanibel.  Captiva and Red Fish pass
are navigable with local knowledge, but I would rate as very risky for
any boat with more than 5' draft.  We drew 5'10' and ran aground several
dozen times in 6 days, including in the middle of the ICW.  Go slowly if
you aren't sure and it's easy to back off.

South Seas plantation is THE fancy resort on Captiva, on the south side
of Red Fish pass.  If you can get in it's worth a night and dinner.
If there is no space, you can anchor in the pass or CLOSE to shore on the
inside , north of Redfish.  The channels thru passes branch on the inside
as the water flowing on the ebb tide hits the beach and scours a deep 
channel just north and south of the passes.  It's surprising to find 8' of
water just a few yards off the beach!

Shelling is the thing to do on these islands.  Check for a spring low,
and take advantage of being able to get the live shells out a ways.

This area is worth a few days, so I doubt that 7 days is enough to
see any of Tampa Bay, do Charlotte/Captiva and go on to Marco & Naples.

We had a perfect week, weather was F + every day.  Water temp was 60
to 65, so a light wetsuit would be nice fodiving.  Have a good time!

My memories of sailing in Florida aren't very fond...Sailed from Tampa
Bay to Marsh Harbor in the Bahama's.  We hit stormy weather and had to
motor for 3 days.   The only things I remember seeing that was neat
were some porpoises and flying fish.   If you are sailing way out you
have to watch out for pirates!!

Susan