Destin to Tarpon Springs

[Silvio]

So, For anyone interested I set off five days ago from Shalimar Florida heading to Tarpon Springs Fl. This is my first "big boy" trip and so far everything has gone well enough. The wind has been on my nose the entire way so I have been a motor boat sticking to the GICW except for a short excursion outside to get from Panama City to Port St Joe. I have made around 120 nm almost entirely under power. I look forward to being a sailboat for a while.

I am currently sitting in Apalchicola waiting for the wind to shift, which it is predicted to around Thursday or so, and then I will be heading across the Gulf for a crossing of roughly 142 nm to the Tarpon Springs area.

[Perithead]

Silvio, thats great! A nice trip you are getting under your belt. Is it a one way trip or are their other destinations in mind?

I live about an hour and a half north of Panama City in Dothan, Alabama. Did you come through Panama City and anchor anywhere nice?

[Silvio]

Hi Perithead. I did stop in Panama City. I stayed at the municipal marina there before heading outside to Port St Joe. This is the first leg of a trip that will take me around Florida and up the east coast to the Chesapeake. I will be stopping in the St Petersburg area for a few months and continuing the trip in April. I will have all summer free to make the trip and at least one of my kids should be able to join me for most of it.

[Perithead]

Wow, what an excellent voyage you have in store for you! My old boat I sold about a month ago is docked at the Municiple marina you stayed at. What nice people there at the marina? Vulker the dockhand is one of the nicest persons I know, and a friend. My boat was at the marina there for about 4 years, I got to know the people there fairly well.

Good luck with your voyage! Enjoy yourself!

[MobiusALilBitTwisted]

I tryed to do this Trip a few months back, had winds from the East and the out board quit, so i hauled her back to my sisters in Chrestview Fl, keep us posted, if i was home i would run down and take you to town or something, take care Fair Winds, Stay Warm.

Dothan Al there are not Sail Boats in Dothan, my home port says "Ozark Al"

[eddie nelson]

Hey Silvio when you get to Tampa Bay, check out Desoto Point at the mouth of the Manatee River. Great anchorage and a beautiful view. I will be there for New Years cruising along that area. Good luck with your trip, sounds like a blast.

[CapnBilll]

That trip is on my todo list. Let me know how it turns out, wind speeds encountered, weather, waves etc...and ports dockage fees etc. also would be good, and what stops you made how were they. And what boat you have. Thanks

[eddie nelson]

Hey CBill I don't have a boat but chartered out of st Pete in October. I was on a 37 ft Beneteau and sailed in Tampa Bay the 1st day and anchored at Desoto Pt the first night. On the second day we goofed off in the gulf and stayed at Long Boat Key anchored for the night. The 3rd day we hit the gulf again and sailed to Venice and anchored behind the marina for the night. That's as far south we went and returned back to St Pete in reverse order.

Desoto Pt was very beautiful and peaceful. Long boat key was ok but had a ton of dolphins everywhere and they were constantly putting on a show for us. Oh and you could anchor right behind this nice restaurant and eat if you wanted. We really liked Venice with all the big beautiful homes and loved everyone taking our pictures when we motored into the inlet. There were a lot of people fishing and hanging out at the entrance to Venice. Now the people at the marina and the convenience store weren't very friendly but we didn't really care, we got our beer and ice, so it was all good.

The only advice I can give you is WATCH your depths! Lots of shoals everywhere and make sure your charts are up to date and bring a camera.lol.