Tarpon Springs and the Florida Gulf Coast

How lovely when Neptune smiles!

Floats as Art

It was 145.43nm from Government Cut to the turn into the Anclote River, which 4.5 winding miles later took us to Tarpon Springs City Marina. We had sailed about 60 miles offshore in turquoise waters and never saw a passing ship ❪during the day or night❫.


However we did have two visitors - check the photos to see who.

Florida Wildlife and Fisheries


A bird (warbler?) rode the dingy davits a couple hrs

During most of the day we had a fairly steady 10 kt breeze from the Northwest. That night the winds rose a bit and we were wondering if we should reef the main sail when things steadied and we finished the trip with a comfortable 15 kt Northeast wind. A starry, starry night with a crescent moon made things almost too easy. Roy & I set up our own little "nests" where we could watch the horizon. Once it got past midnight we both were able to take little "cat" naps. One of us on watch and the other "resting".  The new Raymarine E7 chart plotter was wonderful. We could set the course and let the Autopilot and Chart plotter talk to each other and keep us on track. A shrill beep alerted us every time one waypoint was reached and Wahoo was turning toward the next one.

{Waypoint - latitude and longitude points on the chart that mark your route from start to finish. When you chart your course each leg has a starting and ending mark, called a waypoint. As each leg tends to be a straight line the boat needs to change headings to move onto the next leg of your journey}

Dinner at sunset was comfort food of the highest order -
sautéed crabmeat with a béchamel sauce, a little salad on the side.

Sponge Boats tied up in Tarpon Springs

Look closely you'll see the bags of sponges on this sponge boat.

Thursday, mid-day April 26, as most of you were gearing up for Jazz Fest, we were wandering around Tarpon Springs enjoying being on solid ground, eating a little Greek food, buying soap and sponges. But, even with an afternoon nap, we fell into bed early.

That's Wahoo at anchor in front of Moore's

Friday we were on our way to a favorite anchorage on Longboat Key, South of Tampa - St Pete. Favorite because of Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant. 

Still checking for leaks from the keel every few hours - all seems well.

Saturday we were on the move again eager to get to our anchorage at Sanibel Island, 85nm South of Longboat Key. Every trip we've meant to stop and spend a day on Sanibel, this time we were determined to do so. Plus, we couldn't see the generator guy until Monday anyway. Still enjoying 10 - 15 kt wind we opted to sail the Gulf route from Longboat Key. Going out Longboat Pass, that tricky thing, and coming back into the Intracoastal Waterway at Boca Grande Pass. {The Intracoastal Waterway, IWW, runs from Tarpon Springs to Sanibel.} A gale hit us just as we were in the Pass and the winds quickly whipped up to about 30 kts. It was lovely being able to put down the sides on the Dodger and enclose the cockpit as we made our way down the 20 nm to our anchorage at Sanibel.

Sanibel Island Art

Key Lime Pie, Yummy!

We took the dinghy ashore and spent Sunday wandering around Sanibel; picked up some shells (some for you Nancy), had lunch and tried unsuccessfully to find that picture of a Roseate Spoonbill that I should have bought in Rockport, TX when we were there in 2007. 

Shelling on Sanibel Island

Its now Tuesday afternoon and we're tied up at Moss Marina in Ft Meyers Beach waiting, waiting, waiting for the generator guy to be here...

He said first thing Monday morning. Must be on island time.

Sheba,  May 15, 2000 - May 1, 2012

Waypoints and Mileages
Once out of the Anclote River it's about 54nm for a gulf run South to Longboat Pass. You can also stay in the Intracoastal all the way down to San Carlos Pass

Gulf approach to the bridge at Longboat Pass is to the South of the Pass due to shoaling, very shallow to starboard - be careful of swimmers.
Longboat Pass Approach  27 25.93N   82 42.00W
Longboat Pass 27 26.32N  82 41.71W
Continue through the Pass carefully as shoaling occurs on both sides.
Longboat Pass West 27 26.76N  82 41.11W
Turn South to the anchorage in front of Moore's or maybe you can tie up at their dock.
Longboat Key Anchorage  27 26.30N  82.40.79W

Gulf run from Longboat Pass to Boca Grande Pass 51Nm
Boca Grande Pass 26 40.02N  82 20.09W  well charted and marked pass to IWW

Turn south for about 20 NM to our Sanibel Anchorage near daymarker #4
Sanibel Anchorage 26 27.89N  82 02.65W