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Need info on sailing south from Tarpon Springs Fl.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/20/2011 : 07:52:47

Hi Folks,
Long time, no posts!
Since selling my 89 wing last summer I haven't been keeping up with you folks much.
Starting in the first week in March, my friend Dwight and I will be sailing his 89 wing from Tarpon springs Florida and will head south. Our plan is to sail south for 3 or 4 days, and head back.
Any suggestions for good anchorages, gunkholes, marinas, sleazy tiki bars for fish sandwiches. I would be interested in Clearwater, Tampa bay, Bradenton or Sarasota. I'm not sure how far we will get.
Unfortunately I still have a job and have to get back. (retirement is still about 3 years off)
I'm still sailing my Ericson 32 for now. I would like to get an Ericson 38 for retirement, but we'll see. Now is not the time to sell my 32, but it is a good time to buy a 38. One of the big, big plusses of an Ericson over a Catalina is placement of the headsail winches. they are opposite the wheel, not forward like in the Catalinas. You can single hand these if you want too and not have to walk around the wheel. One hand on the wheel, one on the self tailing winch. I control my headsail from the wheel too. I ran my control lines from an added Harken traveler back to the wheel. Very, very nice.

Thanks in advance for any help. I hope you all are having a great year so far. I decided my snow skiing days are about over last week. Bad knee=pain. WAH!!!!! But I can still pedal my carbon fiber bicycle.

Frank

Frank Gloss
Formerly 89WK/TR
85 Ericson 32-3 shoal draft "Molto Bene"

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2011 : 08:35:32

Here is a link for you:
http://www.flseagrant.org/anchorage/anchorage_sites_map.php

Caladesi Island Park is a good visit:
http://www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland/

Here is my secret anchorage at Pass-A Grille:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en& ie=UTF8& ll=27.707078,-82.734282& spn=0.004398,0.010943& t=h& z=17
Stay on the west side of island and tuck in behind.

We are planning a similar trip for mid April, Longboat Pass, Venice, Boca Grande, Cabbage Key, Fort Myers Beach, Naples, Goodland, Marco Island and Marina Jack Sarasota ,on the way back, are all on the itinerary.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2011 : 09:22:10

Thanks Davy J
I'll have to go out and buy some new printer ink cartriges and print this up.
Good stuff.

Frank

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2011 : 10:21:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">sleazy tiki bars for fish sandwiches<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
You can get a Mcfish sandwich here, this Mcdonalds has a dock:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en& ie=UTF8& ll=27.809145,-82.793135& spn=0.001553,0.002736& t=h& z=19

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 02/20/2011 : 18:51:20

you just lost me there Davey.
I don't eat at McDonalds.
Did you know that Mcdonalds no longer cooks their food on site? Burgers, eggs, etc are pre cooked off site and then they warm them up in steam cabinets. if you ever took a micro biology class and used a warming cabinet to grow your cultures.......you get my drift.
I also gave up fried foods anyways.

Broiled mahi or grouper sandwiches for me. YUM. Fresh greek food in Tarpon Springs near the old sponge docks too.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2011 : 00:34:52

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Did you know that Mcdonalds no longer cooks their food on site?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
LOL, you didn't say it had to be a "good" fish sandwich!
Anyhow, this is a good stop on the Gulf ICW because there is also a grocery store to the east of Mcds. You know, more beer, wine, ice!

Edited by - on

Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2011 : 08:43:39

Hi Frank! It's great to hear from you. Sounds like you have an awesome trip ahead of you. Personally, I would jump outside and head straight to Charlotte Harbor, explore that area (Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa) and slowly make my way back north.

As you well know, Charlotte Harbor is a great place to explore. Make sure you visit Cabbage Key and Cayo Costa...only accessible by boat..and where Jimmy Buffet wrote Cheeseburger in Paradise. Skinny water alert throughout this area....

http://www.cabbagekey.com/home/
http://www.floridastateparks.org/cayocosta/default.cfm

From there, on the outside, head north up to the Venice Inlet..just a few minutes from the Gulf to the intercoastal..to the Crow's Nest Marina and Pops Sunset Grill. Very neat area to explore. I keep my boat in a slip around the corner from the Crow’s Nest, just south of the Venice Yacht Club.

http://www.crowsnest-venice.com/marina/index.cfm
http://www.popssunsetgrill.net/

And just a short trip north to Sarasota, you will find the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Oleary’s, and Marina Jacks, a great marina, downtown Sarasota and close to everything.

http://sarasotasailingsquadron.org/
http://www.sarasotafl.org/listing/olearys-tiki-bar-and-grill-sarasota/
http://www.marinajacks.com/

A little further north, toward the north end of Longboat Key, you will find the Mar Vista

http://www.marvista-restaurant.com/

THIS is THE place for your grouper or mahi. Also, a nice place to tuck in for the evening.

A little further north on Anna Marie Island, on the outside, you might stop at the Sandbar Restaurant. No slips around here but you might swim ashore or dink in. BEWARE! The water gets very skinny in areas around north Anna Marie, Passage Key, and Egmont Key.

http://sandbar.groupersandwich.com/

Further north to St Pete, you will find the St. Pete Municipal Marina. Very cool place with a lot going on. The Tampa Bay Rays play right down the street. I believe former Catalina 25 owner Sten (Redviking) is currently here and would be able to provide much more insight on the area

http://www.stpete.org/marina/

If you haven't already, check out...

http://cruisersnet.net/category/west-fl-western-florida/

Great information from everyone that's actually doing it.
I'm sure I left out something but I hope this helps.

Just give me a heads up and I can help with logistics along the way. Also, keep me in mind for crew when you deliver that Ericson 38

Edited by - on

KenDavis
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2011 : 10:04:08

The Catalina factory in St Pete does tours. Strangely they aren't really walkng distance from the water. Call ahead, it seems like they only do it one day a week.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2011 : 15:25:32

Hey Don,
As long as you bring your "crew". You know who I mean.

How far we get depends on prevailing winds etc. as you know. We would rather sail a shorter distance than motor a longer distance. By the time we rig, splash, then derig and haul out we have only 7 days actuallly sailing.

I definitely want to explore the Charlotte harbor area someday. Maybe come back and charter a boat.

Thanks for the great info
Frank

Edited by - on

Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2011 : 18:59:13

Yes, the delivery "crew" is ready to roll...just give the word.

Understand only limited days to sail, so you could limit the itinerary down to Sarasota and north from there. So many fun places along the coast as well as the intercoastal...and don't forget a little time at Passage Key

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 02/21/2011 : 19:41:24

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">and don't forget a little time at Passage Key <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
For those of you not familiar with the Suncoast, Passage Key is a clothing optional sandbar, south of Egmont Key. You never know what you might see here!

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2011 : 07:18:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Davy J
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">and don't forget a little time at Passage Key <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
For those of you not familiar with the Suncoast, Passage Key is a clothing optional sandbar, south of Egmont Key. You never know what you might see here!

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Cutting the dock lines now... Thanks for the tip! I'm taking my wife and not telling her what the dealeo is... Hope her friend comes along too!

Where's Renzo???!!!

sten

Edited by - redviking on 02/22/2011 07:22:32

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2011 : 07:36:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Don B
Further north to St Pete, you will find the St. Pete Municipal Marina. Very cool place with a lot going on. The Tampa Bay Rays play right down the street. I believe former Catalina 25 owner Sten (Redviking) is currently here and would be able to provide much more insight on the area.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yep, and if you want to anchor in Bayboro Harbor, I'll name you as my guest at the Harborage Marina and you can have showers, dinghy landing, etc. for free! http://www.harboragemarina.com/ or I'll anchor out and you can have my slip!

The New DALI is freaking cool! http://thedali.org/

sten

Edited by - redviking on 02/22/2011 07:54:00

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2011 : 07:59:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Cutting the dock lines now... Thanks for the tip!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
With this weekends forecast of sunny and 78 you should be good to go!
Just be aware, sometimes the scenery is OOH and AHH!!

and sometimes it is OHH and NOO!!

Choosing a place to anchor is never more important than at Passage Key

Edited by - on

Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2011 : 08:06:52

Clothing optional?? Really?? Man, I always thought that the reason for the crowd was because it's a bird sanctuary

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Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2011 : 08:13:52

There's birds??

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2011 : 08:45:26

I stayed at a bed and breakfast for a conference once in Key West, and the clothing optional sun deck was right next to my room (glass door). It was very pleasant on 2 occasions in 5 days. Pretty ugly the rest of the time. Sort of like if I stripped and went out.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2011 : 08:49:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Davy J
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Cutting the dock lines now... Thanks for the tip!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
With this weekends forecast of sunny and 78 you should be good to go!
Just be aware, sometimes the scenery is OOH and AHH!!

and sometimes it is OHH and NOO!!

Choosing a place to anchor is never more important than at Passage Key

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hmmmm... I have a 6.5 thingy attached... Wonder if I can get close enough to the action?

sten

Edited by - on

Don B
Captain

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317 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2011 : 09:25:32

Very skinny waters all the way around...have the dink ready to go.

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Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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1511 Posts

Response Posted - 02/22/2011 : 09:44:43

Personally I have never been there....

... But I "heard" that the water to the northeast of the bar is somewhat deeper. I also "heard" that the water to the west and south is only 3'-4' deep..

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2011 : 19:45:14

Quick update
I just got an I phone and finally got it up and running with e-mail and Itunes etc.
who knew a "simple" apple phone could be complex?
But now I got great wheather apps, my broker, navigation.
and I can make calls too

I wonder if I could update this website from a phone?

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2011 : 19:47:16

gonna head out and drive to Tarpon springs on Wednesday.
Gonna eat some Saganaki and some Moussaka when I get there. I bet I spelled them wrong

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 02/28/2011 : 20:13:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 gonna head out and drive to Tarpon springs on Wednesday.
Gonna eat some Saganaki and some Moussaka when I get there. I bet I spelled them wrong
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Helped a guy rig a Sovereign 17 today over there... Lots of Greek restarants and sponges...

sten

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 03/01/2011 : 06:57:43

[url="http://greekfood.about.com/od/eggplant/r/moussaka.htm"]Moussaka[/url] is great stuff!!

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