Don't get me wrong, I love nothing better than a multi-day cruise along the West Coast of Florida, but sometimes you only have a few hours to get out and sail. While I enjoy a "cruise to nowhere" in Tampa Bay, it can be fun to day sail with a destination in mind! Especially when this destination involves a great lunch stop.
Day trips are also a great way to introduce novice friends and family to the activity, without the pressure of a huge time commitment.
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.
And please enjoy this gallery of stunning photos taken by my buddy Cal Gaines during a recent sailing trip. Cal has a great talent for using ambient lighting and reflections to set up the perfect shot. Head over to Cal Gaines Photography to view more of his work.
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 11 NM
ETE: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Approach: Very straightforward - you can see the island as you cruise past Albert Whitted Airport. Take care when crossing the commercial shipping channel and try to cross at a 90-degree angle if possible. As you approach the island, you will notice extensive shoaling on the west and south sides. On the east side is a protected bight that you can anchor in. You will see a separate shoal area just east of Beer Can Island.
Anchoring/Mooring: You can anchor in the teens and still be close enough for an easy swim or dinghy ashore.
Ashore: This island can be very busy on weekends and holidays. Great people watching! Generally a fun party vibe, mostly family-friendly during daylight hours. The island is privately owned, and the management runs a small bar and snack shack.
Don’t Miss: On busy weekends, a pontoon boat circles the island, selling ice cream. Yum! Also, you can pay to use a large inflatable water slide on the island.
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 16 NM
ETE: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Approach: Very easy navigation, in deep water. Mind the shipping channel, which you will have to cross at least once (or twice, depending on your chosen route). Also be aware of the exclusion zone surrounding MacDill AFB, at the southern tip of Gadsden Point. You’ll see conspicuous white signage around this zone. Being the home of CENTCOM, the Air Force MPs take this very seriously!
Anchoring/Mooring: If coming for lunch, you can pay a nominal hourly fee. If spending the night, you will pay through Dockwa. Floating docks and an easy approach!
Ashore: Step off the boat and step right into the hustle and bustle of Downtown Tampa! While reasonably priced for an overnight anchorage, you will find no shower facilities on shore. The slips do have power and water. This area can get busy during home Lightning hockey games. Avoid the area during Gasparilla, the parade and bacchanalia that falls in late January.
Don’t Miss: The free trolley has a station across the street (near the Embassy Suites) and you can ride all the way up to Ybor City, Tampa’s fabled historic neighborhood and former Cigar factories. You can also stroll along River Walk, a beautiful 2.6-mile walking trail that skirts downtown. My favorite restaurants include Sparkman Wharf, American Social, Ulele, Armature Works and the Columbia Cafe.
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 10.5 NM
ETE: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Approach: Mostly straightforward until the final mile. You will want to pick up the South Gandy Channel Green “1” and follow the channel closely as it runs WSW. You will see extensive shoaling, but Navionics has never led me astray here. I would avoid this trip in the winter solstice and on new and full moons.
Anchoring/Mooring: Free day dock but you really can only fit on the end of the T-head, as the other slips are too shallow. For this reason, I usually avoid coming here on weekends.
Ashore: Really fun, laid-back beach bar vibe that feels like you’re in the middle of a mangrove hammock.
Don’t Miss: The Cabbage Creeper is their take on a Pina Colada and it’s delicious!
Distance from Saint Petersburg: 10 NM
ETE: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Approach: Very straightforward, but mind the shoaling around the southwest corner of MacDill.
Anchoring/Mooring: Very convenient floating day dock - you can dock alongside the outer face of this dock. Be on the lookout for rogue nails/bolts sticking out of the dock. Also, some of the cleats have seen better days. This dock is very unprotected and can be a little slo
Ashore: Large restaurant venue with live music and a downstairs bar area. Very eclectic menu and great for sushi lovers.
Don’t Miss: Great brunch menu!
You could also argue that Gulfport makes a fun day trip (but check your mast height). I'll include Gulfport in a future post about my favorite overnight stops, heading north up the Intracoastal Water Way.
Where do you like to day sail? Leave a comment below!
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