This week, let's explore some cruising destinations as you head south out of Tampa Bay.
As a reminder, the notes below are not intended to provide navigational advice- please consult you own charts and apps before proceeding. For the purpose of Estimated Time Enroute (ETE), assume cruising speed of 6 knots SOG.
Manatee River Anchorage (Emerson Point)
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 18.5 NM
ETE: 3 hours, 5 minutes
Approach: Mind Coquina Key as you depart from St. Pete. Open water through the Skyway. As you enter the mouth of the Manatee River, follow Navionics closely. The SonarChart is accurate. You will notice that you will need to favor one side of the channel or the other, at times.
Anchoring/Mooring: Generally, you will see more boats anchored along the south bank of the Manatee, but I advise against it; the anchorage is crowded, and its proximity to the dredged channel leaves it vulnerable to power boaters and their wake. I prefer to anchor along the northern bank, whose bight offers great protection. Please note that this river has reversing tidal current, so in settled weather, you still may swing 180 degrees overnight.
Ashore: Emerson Point is a well-maintained county park and is closed from dusk till dawn. They do have a dinghy dock that recently sustained some storm damage, so you may need to beach the dinghy. If you have time, walk the trails and boardwalks through the mangrove canopies.
Don’t Miss: A well-preserved midden mound with interpretive signage that details the region’s history.
Twin Dolphins Marina (Downtown Bradenton)
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 22.2 NM
ETE: 3 hours, 47 minutes
Approach: Please see approach notes from above. The Manatee River is very broad, and shoaling is clearly labeled in Navionics.
Anchoring/Mooring: Transient dockage available through Dockwa. Please note that the tidal current can rip through this marina and produce some expensive headaches! I have had several near-misses in this basin.
Ashore: In the summertime, it’s hard to beat the swimming pool at Twin Dolphins. The marina also offers pump out and fuel.
Don’t Miss: Bradenton is the county seat for Manatee County and has numerous dining options. Bradenton is also the Spring Training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Seafood Shack Marina (Cortez)
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 20.9 NM
ETE: 3 hours, 29 minutes
Approach: Fairly tricky section of the ICW, especially when transiting “The Bulkhead” near the northern tip of Anna Maria Island. Navionics won’t lead you astray.
Anchoring/Mooring: Seafood Shack always holds a special place for me, as it was the destination of my first overnight trip on a sailboat. When a sailing instructor, I sometimes visit two or three times a month. At time's, I'm tempted to forward my mail here! Harley Wise is the dockmaster and he’s truly a standup guy. Docks are fixed but are in good shape.
Ashore: If you’re exhausted from a great day of sailing, you can’t beat the convenience of eating at Seafood Shack. If you’re up for a little more adventure, take the 20-minute walk across Cortez Bridge to a fun district along Bridge Street.
Don’t Miss: The Blue Marlin AMI is an excellent, well-heeled seafood restaurant housed in an historic fishing cottage. It also has an outdoor live music venue with some incredible acoustic talent.
Longboat Key Club Moorings
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 30.2 NM
ETE: 5 hours, 2 minutes
Approach: Some tricky ICW, especially near Jewfish Key. Mind the channel and always favor the side with deeper water.
Anchoring/Mooring: Straightforward approach from Sarasota Bay. Helpful dock staff will assist as you tie up on its well-maintained, fixed docks.
Ashore: This stop is a true splurge. While not cheap, we usually try to stay here for two nights so we have a full “day off” to enjoy the luxurious resort property. The marina rus a free shuttle that will drive you 10 minutes to the main resort property, located on the southern tip of Longboat Key. This area is home to a spa, tennis court, golf course, and large pool with hot tub. The marina has its own pool and hot tub as well. The shower/bathhouse facility is impeccable. The marina also offers pump out and fuel.
Don’t Miss: Portofino is an upscale Italian restaurant located right in the marina, and it’s some of the best Italian food we’ve ever had! Select nights have live music.
Marina Jack in Downtown Sarasota
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 33.4 NM
ETE: 5 hours, 34 minutes
Approach: Please see notes above, regarding ICW through Anna Maria and Longboat. Once in Sarasota Bay, navigation becomes less technical. The approach to the marina is straightforward.
Anchoring/Mooring: Marina Jack is a real icon of the downtown scene. The docks are floating and the dockstaff are helpful and professional. The marina complex has two restaurants and a piano bar on site. Showers are generally clean. The marina also maintains the mooring field.
Ashore: The marina is located in the heart of downtown Sarasota and all it has to offer. Saturday mornings feature a farmers market. You are also a short Uber ride to St. Armand’s Circle, which offers a unique shopping and dining experience. If you have time, Uber to the Mote Marine Aquarium. The marina also offers pump out and fuel.
Don’t Miss: A short walk to Bayfront Park will lead you to O’Leary’s Tiki Bar and Grill, which is a great spot to watch the sun go down and the city lights come on.
Navigational note for this area: Longboat Pass and Venice Inlet are safe and well-marked. Do not attempt to transit New Pass or Big Pass, as these are not suitable for deep-draft vessels.
Crow’s Nest Marina (Venice)
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 46.9 NM
ETE: 7 hours, 49 minutes
Approach: Easy access from the Gulf. This is a big trip to do in one day, so I usually break it up with an overnight in Cortez, Longboat or Sarasota.
Anchoring/Mooring: Well-maintained fixed docks, but be advised tidal current can be strong. Crow’s Nest has one of the best dockhand staffs on the Gulf Coast. I always follow their instructions carefully.
Ashore: We try to arrive early enough to rent bikes from the marina staff and ride (about 20 minutes) to downtown Venice, a charming master-planned community that boomed in the Post-War years. Back at Crow’s Nest, the on-site steakhouse is excellent! The marina also offers pump out and fuel. There is another marina in Venice called Fisherman’s Wharf, which has better access to downtown. I haven’t spent the night, but have heard great things.
Don’t Miss: Breakfast sandwich at Jetty Jack’s, located along the sidewalk to the Venice Jetty. Also say hello to Pepe the parrot at the marina office for me.
This marks the third and final post in the anchorage series. My hope is these notes might inspire you to untie the docklines and go exploring these amazing gems along Florida's West Coast.
Fair winds and following seas!
Comments