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Anchored in Venice

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Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/11/2011 : 05:23:59

Good Morning, We are sipping coffee in Venice, anchored at Higel Park. Sailed 10 hours yesterday from Passe-a-Grill to the Venice inlet. Mostly motorsailing, with the autopilot. Didn't touch the tiller for hours.

Today's agenda is to make it to Cabbage Key. Pictures and video to follow.

Davy J

2005 Gemini 105Mc
PO 1987 C25 #5509 SR/SK
Tampa Bay

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 06:15:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Davy J
 Good Morning, We are sipping coffee in Venice, anchored at Higel Park. Sailed 10 hours yesterday from Passe-a-Grill to the Venice inlet. Mostly motorsailing, with the autopilot. Didn't touch the tiller for hours.

Today's agenda is to make it to Cabbage Key. Pictures and video to follow.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> That's pretty good time, even motorsailing. Did you use the ICW, or go outside? This is a great time of year for that area! It's beautiful, but be careful of the sun. It's hotter than it seems.

Higel Park is a pleasant stop. It's well sheltered and has quick access to the Gulf, if the weather permits you to go outside. If you go outside, however, you have to go quite a way offshore to get around some shoals when you enter Boca Grand Pass. There used to be a shortcut that you could take in to Boca Grand Pass, along the shoreline of Boca Grand Island, but I haven't used it in years, and don't know if it's still usable.

It should be a neat trip. I'm looking forward to your pics.

Edited by - on

Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 08:47:06

Davy, Hopefully that wind swings a little more from out of the west..looks like it may hit you on the nose for a bit today. What a beautiful close hauled sail that would be.

Saturday, I left the Venice inlet late morning and had a beautiful day sail..All the while daydreaming that with the northwest wind I was experiencing, I could have made it to Charlotte Harbor in 4-5 hours.

Have a great time, and of course, a cheeseburger in paradise!

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2011 : 17:22:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">That's pretty good time, even motorsailing. Did you use the ICW, or go outside?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
We left Passe-a-grille at 8:30am and went outside.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Davy, Hopefully that wind swings a little more from out of the west..looks like it may hit you on the nose for a bit today<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
On the nose most of the day. Finally got some sails up at about 3:30-4:00. We used the short cut at Boca Grande, but with 3-4 seas it was a bit scary.

We are anchored here, beautiful, but tons of mosquitoes
http://www.flseagrant.org/anchorage/anchorage_site_detail.php?site=Point Blanco No. 1

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2011 : 05:39:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Davy J
 On the nose most of the day. Finally got some sails up at about 3:30-4:00. We used the short cut at Boca Grande, but with 3-4 seas it was a bit scary.

We are anchored here, beautiful, but tons of mosquitoes
http://www.flseagrant.org/anchorage/anchorage_site_detail.php?site=Point Blanco No. 1
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I agree that shortcut is a little scary. You're actually going behind a shoal, and it's disconcerting to see waves breaking over the shoals to the west of you. Boca Grand Pass is almost always choppy, and I think it has to do with the size of the opening, the shoals all around it, and the volume of water going in and out of Charlotte Harbor with every tidal change. I think the tidal currents are what keep that shortcut scoured clean of sand. You can tell that it has been there for a long time, as evidenced by the old, abandoned commercial dock that you pass close by as you line up for the shortcut. Boca Grand Pass is also a good place to encounter dolphins in the wild.

Mosquito netting for at least the companionway hatch and the cockpit hatch are a must for southwest Florida cruising.

That website that you provided that surveys anchorages in the area is outstanding. I wish there was a similar website for the Chesapeake Bay.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2011 : 06:19:46

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Steve Milby
Mosquito netting for at least the companionway hatch and the cockpit hatch are a must for southwest Florida cruising.

That website that you provided that surveys anchorages in the area is outstanding. I wish there was a similar website for the Chesapeake Bay.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Florida Sea Grant is run by the University of South Florida and the anchorage survey only covers the lower Gulf Coast... Nicely done though.

We use 2 massive bugscreens to cover the cockpit when those nasty things come around biting...

sten

Edited by - on

Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2011 : 07:04:00

Steve, I hope to visit Charlotte Harbor in the very near future and was wondering if you could provide more information about making a run through the swash cut. You mention an old abandoned dock that you line up on. A distance from the dock/shore and any other landmarks would be greatly appreciated.

And maybe Davy, can provide additional information when back from vacation

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2011 : 07:58:50

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Don B
 Steve, I hope to visit Charlotte Harbor in the very near future and was wondering if you could provide more information about making a run through the swash cut. You mention an old abandoned dock that you line up on. A distance from the dock/shore and any other landmarks would be greatly appreciated.

And maybe Davy, can provide additional information when back from vacation

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Don, I haven't been through the swash channel shortcut since I retired and started sailing the Chesapeake Bay, but, knowing that Davy has just used it, I wouldn't be afraid to use it cautiously. The following directions are from an old article that I wrote on cruising the Gulf Coast, and it isn't too difficult.

"To enter [the Swash Channel] from the Gulf, hug the western shore of Gasparilla Island, staying about 150-200 yards off. Then pass close by the old pier (no farther than about 100 feet) and take a heading of about 155 degrees into the center of Boca Grande Pass."

The location of the old pier was shown on my nautical chart when I last used the Swash Channel. If you have a gps chartplotter, I would think that it shows the location of the navigable water.

I suggest you lower your sails and motor through the shortcut the first time you use it, because you'll be able to maneuver the boat if you get off line or have any problems.

The closer you are to high tide when you pass through it, the wider the channel will be. If you can time your entrance to high tide, you'll give yourself more room for error.

It really isn't difficult to get through it, but, personally, I wouldn't, under any circumstances try to go through it in big winds and waves.

If I was cruising that area, I would definitely plan to stop at South Seas Plantation Resort on Captiva Island. Again, I have to caution that I haven't been there in years, but it was always the most beautiful resort on the West coast, and, at that time, they wanted to attract boaters to the resort, and the cost of docking was reasonable, especially by comparison with the cost of staying ashore at the resort. They had numerous restaurants of varying price ranges. I hope it's as good as when I was last there.

Captiva Island was the source of inspiration to name my boat "Captiva Wind."

Edited by - Steve Milby on 04/12/2011 08:15:15

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2011 : 08:02:22

How far offshore will those buggers go? On our area lakes, mosquitos aren't an issue unless you anchor up near shore.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2011 : 08:28:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 How far offshore will those buggers go? On our area lakes, mosquitos aren't an issue unless you anchor up near shore.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I don't know exactly, but mosquitos aren't as much of a problem in the more developed areas. They are worst in isolated locations. But what's really bad are no-see-ums. Those things hurt when they bite, and they swarm, and you might get bit by 10-15 at a time. They are so tiny that some might even be able to get through mosquito netting. In one marina, they made us run from the showers to the boat, and we closed up the boat tightly.

Bring mosquito netting. Get the finest netting you can find.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 04/12/2011 08:30:46

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 04/12/2011 : 09:11:29

Avon Skin so soft fer the no see ums.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 05:54:29

We are currently docked at Salty Sams Marina in Fort Myers Beach. Motored thru Pine Island Sound yesterday.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">And maybe Davy, can provide additional information when back from vacation <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I took a long look at Google Maps, then zoomed my GPS into the inlet. As advertised, you will point at the old pier, then skirt the beach directly south. You will be about 250'-300' off the beach. The water is clear and you can see the bottom. At the time we went thru we had about 7' of depth. We had SSW swell, I think it would be more difficult with a direct westerly swell. It really turned out to be less difficult than I thought it was going to be.

Edited by - on

Don B
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 14:02:52

Steve and Davy, Thanks for the great, detailed information. I've heard so many different stories over the last couple of years...that extensive shoaling closed the cut and a sand dredging operation had pipes running along the cut which prevented access.

And if you're visiting Captiva, might check out a couple of other landmarks...The Mucky Duck, and The Bubbleroom...It's been a few years since my last visit but remember both as fun places.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 04/13/2011 : 15:04:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">And if you're visiting Captiva, might check out a couple of other landmarks...The Mucky Duck, and The Bubbleroom<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
If time permits, we are going to stop at Tween Waters on the way back. Loved dinner at the Old Captiva House. Hit The Bubbleroom on our last visit, which was a few years ago.

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