What's to do in Florida?

[dscribner]

I sail Maine. We have thousands of miles of coastline, rocks to dodge, ledges and shoals to avoid. Islands, coves, harbors everywhere. Now, sometime in May, I might be spending some time in Florida in the Sarasota area and could possible be looking into a 3-4 day rental (I shy from the term "charter").

1) Does anybody know of anybody in that area that is reasonable?

2) If I did get down there, what is there to do, where can you go? It looks like miles and miles of beaches and one long island (key). Seems kind of boring. N'est pas?

Don

(AKA Mournful in Maine)

 

[Ross]

In Florida you can lie on the beach and walk to the cabana for a drink and go back and lie on the beach. I have been there once and can recall having left anything that I should go back for.

 

[Sumner]

... and could possible be looking into a 3-4 day rental (I shy from the term "charter")....

I guess I would have a hard time with the 3-4 day part. To give the place a fair shot you need more than that in my opinion.

We like it down there, me more than Ruth, which surprises me. It for sure doesn't have the variety of terrain that we have here in the west and we wouldn't be interested in going down if we had to stay on land, but there is something about being out on the water there that I really like.

We like anchoring out and if you do that you get away from the people there is actually a lot of solitude there if you are into that like we are. We put in south of Sarasota at Charlotte Harbor and from there on south into the 10,000 Island/Everglades area and on into the keys is really special. A lot of it just looks the same, but still it isn't.

We will head north up the west coast one of these days and see how we like that. If you are into marinas and food and all of that it is there, but if you aren't you can find plenty of places to escape to like we do.

I think if I was limited to less than a couple weeks on the water there I wouldn't really be giving the place a chance. I see the same thing here, people stay overnight at the Grand Canyon go by Monument Valley on the way to Moab where they go into Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park in the same day and say they've seen the area.

I think with the 3-4 days your best bet is to see if you could hook up with someone on the board for a couple days that knows the area and that you could just go out with and relax and see what it is all about.

Navigating down there is way different than what we had ever done and going out with someone would take that out of the equation.

Hope you get to experience some of Florida from the 'water side' though and not just walking the beach,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

 

[MrUnix]

I sail Maine. We have thousands of miles of coastline, rocks to dodge, ledges and shoals to avoid. Islands, coves, harbors everywhere.

Hmm.. lets see.. we have thousands of miles of coastline, sunken pirate ships to dodge, coral reefs to explore, Islands, coves and harbors everywhere, year-round sailing and water that you can swim in without freezing. Of our 3000+ miles of tidal shoreline, only some 600 miles of it are beach. And that 'Key' is actually a 100 mile long string of approximately 1700 islands that are the remnants of an ancient reef. Lets not forget the sub-tropical climate and your choice of ocean, bay, gulf or intercoastal sailing depending on your mood, along with a wide selection of Rum from around the world

Cheers,
Brad

 

[Benny17441]

Yeah, we got the beaches open all year-round, are there any in Maine? If you are looking for things to dodge here we have plenty of skinny water and shallows. Brush up on bottom navigation skills. The channel markers into Sarasota are movable to keep pace with the drifting shoals. You need to keep a sharp watch here, mainly a "bikini watch". Oh, please remember not to feed the dolphins. Them pesky creatures will come up in groups up to the boat and will put on a show swimming around, but please don't feed them. They eat only fish and are excellent fisherfish. Don't forget your sunglasses and suntan lotion. The light and colors are brighter down here and the sun is strong enough that you may get sunburned. We also have one thing that you will not find in Maine and that is the Intracoastal waterway. You can have your choice of going out in the Gulf of Mexico or partaking in the calm inland waters. The Okechobee Waterway can take you across the state through a series of locks. But with only 3-4 days I would suggest you just go out and enjoy the temperatures, the breeze and the sun.

 

[Bill1565]

I sail Maine. We have thousands of miles of coastline, rocks to dodge, ledges and shoals to avoid. Islands, coves, harbors everywhere.

In Florida, you can go into the water.

 

[Florida sail]

Dear Downeaster,

Having sailed for years out of Portsmouth NH and now sailing full time the Gulf Coast of FL I can agree with the others that 3-4 days can not do justice to sailing the west coast of FL. If you had the time destinations like the Keys or the dry Tortugas should definitely be on your list. Gunkholing the west coast is also something that I personally enjoy. The cross Okeechobee waterway and the wildlife you experience there is another don't miss experience. Unfortunately the HOH is down and not passable @ this time.
Come on down when you can spend some time. Who knows, you may end up like this transplanted Yankee and decide to sail year round?

 

[dlewis812]

bareboat operation

did bareboat charter with this "operation" (he has one 30' catalina). nice boat and reasonably priced with many options on length of charter. (sarasota)

http://www.latsail.com/

 

[Ed Schenck]

As everyone has already stated you won't do much in such a short time. I have daysailed from the Sailing Squadron. Rented a Catalina 22 for an afternoon. Over to Marina Jack's for lunch.
http://sarasotasailingsquadron.org/

 

[inarathree]

Agreed, that 3-4 days isn't enough. You would need a good 10 days to go from Tampa area to the Tortugas and Keys, and back and no rush.

But there are several sailboat charter companies out of St Petersburg, where you can rent for a day, if you absolutely feel the need.

 

[dscribner]

I think everybody's hit on the problem I was really trying to address: time. Florida would be amazing given the month or so the so it right. But with 3 days, I don't think I could really get anywhere but out and back from Sarasota. As much as I love sailing, one of my favorite times is the end of the day, sun going down, a glass of merlot, a cool breeze an a warm woman (wife!). From the satellite photo, it looks like suburbia as far as you can sail in a day.

 

[Steve Walsh]

Thanks in advance for your tax and tourist dollars! Enjoy our state and contray to popular belief, retirees are not required to wear black over the calf socks with their sandals, plaid shorts and tucked in white armless t-shirts to visit our state. Seriously, trailer your Lancer down to the Keys and island hop for a few weeks. Check out Sumner's links on sailing his Mac thur SW Florida and the Keys; great stuff.

 

[seadaddler]

Sunsets

You will get to see the best Sunsets and wine you will ever see for sure,try a small day sailor with swing keel and sail around sarasota bay is really beautiful and a day sail you will enjoy and try some water view rest.
Mote marine and ringing musem is pretty good also,3-4 days is good for a day sail and seeing the best and most beautiful beaches with great clear gulf water and like said go swimming too.
Nick

 

[CanuckSailor]

I can personally recommend Southwest Fl Yacht Charters - www.swfyachts.com
3444 Marinatown Ln # 19 Fort Myers, FL 33903-7009, 239-656-1339, ask for owner Barb Hansen. Good people, nice boats, lovely sailing area with lots of choices. Tell Barb that Wally, from SAIL, sent you, you never know!

Wally

 

[Tom J]

Sarasota is a great place to visit. I'd suggest a quick sail down the coast to Venice and an overnight stay at the Crow's Nest Marina. Great restaurant there, and very nice beach nearby. If one of the famous cold fronts is in the area, you can still motor-sail down the ICW to Venice. Of course, "cold" is a relative term. I'd bet you would still be going into the water for a swim, when the locals would be freezing their buns off.

 

[gpdno]

one of the famous cold fronts is in the area, you can still motor-sail down the ICW to Venice. Of course, "cold" is a relative term. I'd bet you would still be going into the water for a swim, when the locals would be freezing their buns off.

True. I live in Venice. Went out sailing yesterday afternoon and the whole family had jackets on. It's getting cold here, high 60ies. Burr

 

[inarathree]

Cold in Venice?!? I was out last night, it was low 70s. And I am "north" of you. I still had shorts on, but I had to put on socks to stay warm.

 

[seadaddler]

Best time

Oct and Nov are one of the best times for sailing in Florida for sure,I had shoulder surgery in August and so no sailing for me and it's killing me not sailing this time of year.
Dec might get some cold fronts in but you never know what our fall and winter are going to be coll or warm every year it changes,last year we had maybe 1 week of cold weather but the rest was fantastic and year before was really one of the coldest winter in many years.
Have a great visit and sample Florida.
Nick

 

[Merlin Clark]

Cold in Venice?!? I was out last night, it was low 70s. And I am "north" of you. I still had shorts on, but I had to put on socks to stay warm.

It's hell having to break out the artic survival gear isn't it?
I know I have some long sleeved shorts around here somewhere......

 

[gpdno]

Ya, I keep telling my wife if it gets much colder we'll have to move further south, like the Key's
But seriously, this time of year is near perfect weather on the west cost of Florida. Nice winds and cool temps. Can't ask for much more.