Nov 03 2009
Tampa Bay Sailing Area, West Florida
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is centrally located on Florida’s west coast, and is one of the largest protected bays in the country. A chain of barrier islands north and south of Tampa Bay protects the coastline. Picture-postcard white sand beaches stretch along the whole coast. The Gulf of Mexico beckons for long, open water sails along the coast.
Enjoy sailing and exploring the bays, rivers, estuaries, barrier islands and the Gulf of Mexico. Secluded anchorages, upscale marinas, parks and nature reserves; the selection offers something for every life style. Although the area is fairly shallow in nature, it is well documented and full of navigational aids.
Places of Interest:
Egmont Key State Park, is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay
Egmont Key
Although this park is primarily a wildlife refuge, it can be a personal refuge – a place to relax and collect shells along secluded, pristine beaches. Accessible only by private boat, Egmont Key has a unique natural and cultural history, including a lighthouse that has stood since 1858. During the 19th century, the island served as a camp for captured Seminoles at the end of the Third Seminole War and was later occupied by the Union Navy during the Civil War. In 1898, as the Spanish – American War threatened, Fort Dade was built on the island and remained active until 1923. After touring the historic sites and trails, visitors can enjoy swimming, fishing, wildlife viewing, and picnicking. Located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, southwest of Fort DeSoto Beach. Anchoring is recommended anywhere but the southern end, which is designed a bird sanctuary. Docking is limited to government vessels
Manatee River
The Manatee River flows into the southwestern part of Tampa Bay. There is a wonderful anchorage a few miles up the river before you get to the bridge. You can drop a hook just off a spit of land covered with mangroves. The sandy beach there is great for salt water fly fishing – tarpon and snook abound there. This is also a place where you can watch the pelicans diving all day for their dinners.
Florida Water Adventures offers Egmont Key Day Trips
Tarpon Springs to Egmont Key
North of Tampa Bay, Sail up the coast and back just enjoying the beautiful waters and scenery along the way.
Clearwater Beach:
Clearwater Municipal Marina is ideally located on world-renowned sparkling Clearwater Beach, that has the distinct classification of a Blue Wave Beach. It is one of the best-equipped and most versatile marinas in Florida. Clearwater Municipal Marina offers access to all boating activities. We are home to the finest fishing charters, sailing charters, sight-seeing boats, dinner cruises, dolphin tours, parasailing, and personal watercraft. We also have restaurants, gift shop, barber shop, nautical shop, laundry, mini-mart, post office, newspaper, bait house and dental clinic. It is centrally located so you are close to shopping and entertainment venues.
Clearwater Municipal Marina is a 210-slip marina that is open seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Three Rooker Bar, Gulf of Mexico.
Anchor just off this beautiful white sandy island, between Honeymoon Island and Anclote Key off the western Florida ICW, and dinghy ashore for some of the best shelling along the west coast. The island, a bird sanctuary, is somewhat exposed and the water is shallow, but the anchorage at the northern end is sheltered and provides a perfect setting for watching the sun set.
Anclote Key, Gulf of Mexico
The remoteness of this unique island is the key to respecting its fragile beauty and character. The lighthouse at the island’s southern end served as a beacon to ships for years after President Grover Cleveland declared Anclote Key a lighthouse reservation in 1886 and the lighthouse and two houses for its keepers were built. In 1984 the lighthouse was decommissioned after modern navigation technology made the lighthouse obsolete. Just north of Anclote is a sandbar which is very popular with local boaters. Just North of Anclote Key is the North Sandbar, nice beach and lot of traffic on weekends.
North Sandbar, Anclote Key
If you are looking for a sailing charter in the area go to Water Sports FL
