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Keys to Palmetto, Bradenton, St. Pete
12 years 2 weeks ago #2244
by kcjonz
Keys to Palmetto, Bradenton, St. Pete was created by kcjonz
After several years on the East Coast, we sailed Gratitude (IP445-01) from Ft. Lauderdale around to the Gulf side of Florida. We cut through the Keys at Channel Five. The initial route past there is a little tricky but I had taken Ad Astra (IP35-16) through there about a decade ago so was somewhat familiar with the area. We draw 5' and didn't touch although the depth gauge read less than that a time or two.
Note that the Yacht Channel through Arsenic Bank is tight but not as bad as is looks as long as you pass through there in reasonable weather and during the daylight hours. (something I'm infamous for ignoring).
There is an exposed anchorage off of the middle cape of Cape Sable but with east winds we gave it a pass. Instead we pressed on the the mouth of the Little Shark River. I had read about it but never stopped there. It was a very protected anchorage. In fact a captain told me he rode out a hurricane further up the river in a Tartan 37 with no damage. Reports of it being buggy were accurate. Since it was also hot a muggy, we buttoned up the boat and ran the AC and generator all night. It is scenic, remote, and the holding was good.
The next day we sailed to Marco Island and spent the night at the Marina at Factory Bay. www.themarinaatfactorybay.com/ There is some current there but the dockmaster was very helpful. We walked to the Snook Inn and had a nice dinner with live entertainment and good people watching.
From there we sailed north and passed between Sanibel and Ft. Myers Beach into San Carlos Bay where we took the ICW across the "miserable mile" (note, we found it neither miserable nor a mile, you just need to watch the marks in front and back to be sure the current doesn't push you out of the channel into very shallow water). This leads to Pine Island Sound where we sailed Halimeda (IP45-22) 15 years ago out of Burnt Store Marina in Charlotte Harbor in preparation for our year long caribbean adventure. (see www.halimeda.com) We spent the night at Cabbage Key and found it just as scenic and charming as I remember with even more dollars on the walls. We didn't see Jimmy Buffett there but did have a cheeseburger and it is a tropical paradise.
The next day we sailed out Boca Grande past scores of tarpon fishing boats and then continued north to the Venice Inlet. There are 3 other inlets we considered but felt this was the best choice. The tropical storm the pass through the area while we were in the Keys reportedly had caused shoaling at Longboat Key, Big Sarasota, and New passes. From Venice we took the ICW to downtown Sarasota and took a mooring at Marina Jacks. Although they only have 3 transient moorings they were available.
From there we continued up the ICW to the Manatee River to our destination at Regatta Pointe Marina. This is an excellent facility with good protection, friendly staff, great laundry and boaters lounge and two good restaurants. There are a couple of others within a few of blocks. I especially liked Norma Rays for breakfast and lunch.
The Tampa Bay area is noted for afternoon thunderstorms. It supposedly has the most lightning strikes of any place in the states. After tieing up Gratitude during a delightful lunch at the Riverside Cafe lightning struck and badly damaged Duke of Earl, a large catamaran in view of our table just outside the restaurant. It had the tallest mast on that dock (as did Gratitude two docks down some 50 yards away). Halimeda was struck at the dock in Burnt Store Marina in '98 destroying all the electronics but causing no other damage.
My crew left so the next day I single handed to Bradenton and spend the night at the Bradenton Yacht club. The next day I continued on under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge across the mouth of Tampa Bay and then on to downtown St. Pete where I tied up at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. I am a non-resident member of the Florida YC in Jacksonville (we live in Leawood, KS, a suburb of Kansas City). It allows us free dockage and many reciprocal clubs around Florida. At $100/month dues it more than makes up for what we would pay at public marinas. see www.floridacouncilofyachtclubs.com/member_clubs.htm
That evening I rode my bike on a great bike path a mile and a half to watch the Kansas City Royals defeat the Tampa Bay Rays. What fun!
We like being back on the West Coast of Florida again. If you have any questions, e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paul A Jones
SV Gratitude
Island Packet 445-01
Haling port: Leawood, KS
Note that the Yacht Channel through Arsenic Bank is tight but not as bad as is looks as long as you pass through there in reasonable weather and during the daylight hours. (something I'm infamous for ignoring).
There is an exposed anchorage off of the middle cape of Cape Sable but with east winds we gave it a pass. Instead we pressed on the the mouth of the Little Shark River. I had read about it but never stopped there. It was a very protected anchorage. In fact a captain told me he rode out a hurricane further up the river in a Tartan 37 with no damage. Reports of it being buggy were accurate. Since it was also hot a muggy, we buttoned up the boat and ran the AC and generator all night. It is scenic, remote, and the holding was good.
The next day we sailed to Marco Island and spent the night at the Marina at Factory Bay. www.themarinaatfactorybay.com/ There is some current there but the dockmaster was very helpful. We walked to the Snook Inn and had a nice dinner with live entertainment and good people watching.
From there we sailed north and passed between Sanibel and Ft. Myers Beach into San Carlos Bay where we took the ICW across the "miserable mile" (note, we found it neither miserable nor a mile, you just need to watch the marks in front and back to be sure the current doesn't push you out of the channel into very shallow water). This leads to Pine Island Sound where we sailed Halimeda (IP45-22) 15 years ago out of Burnt Store Marina in Charlotte Harbor in preparation for our year long caribbean adventure. (see www.halimeda.com) We spent the night at Cabbage Key and found it just as scenic and charming as I remember with even more dollars on the walls. We didn't see Jimmy Buffett there but did have a cheeseburger and it is a tropical paradise.
The next day we sailed out Boca Grande past scores of tarpon fishing boats and then continued north to the Venice Inlet. There are 3 other inlets we considered but felt this was the best choice. The tropical storm the pass through the area while we were in the Keys reportedly had caused shoaling at Longboat Key, Big Sarasota, and New passes. From Venice we took the ICW to downtown Sarasota and took a mooring at Marina Jacks. Although they only have 3 transient moorings they were available.
From there we continued up the ICW to the Manatee River to our destination at Regatta Pointe Marina. This is an excellent facility with good protection, friendly staff, great laundry and boaters lounge and two good restaurants. There are a couple of others within a few of blocks. I especially liked Norma Rays for breakfast and lunch.
The Tampa Bay area is noted for afternoon thunderstorms. It supposedly has the most lightning strikes of any place in the states. After tieing up Gratitude during a delightful lunch at the Riverside Cafe lightning struck and badly damaged Duke of Earl, a large catamaran in view of our table just outside the restaurant. It had the tallest mast on that dock (as did Gratitude two docks down some 50 yards away). Halimeda was struck at the dock in Burnt Store Marina in '98 destroying all the electronics but causing no other damage.
My crew left so the next day I single handed to Bradenton and spend the night at the Bradenton Yacht club. The next day I continued on under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge across the mouth of Tampa Bay and then on to downtown St. Pete where I tied up at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. I am a non-resident member of the Florida YC in Jacksonville (we live in Leawood, KS, a suburb of Kansas City). It allows us free dockage and many reciprocal clubs around Florida. At $100/month dues it more than makes up for what we would pay at public marinas. see www.floridacouncilofyachtclubs.com/member_clubs.htm
That evening I rode my bike on a great bike path a mile and a half to watch the Kansas City Royals defeat the Tampa Bay Rays. What fun!
We like being back on the West Coast of Florida again. If you have any questions, e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Paul A Jones
SV Gratitude
Island Packet 445-01
Haling port: Leawood, KS
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