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Please Note That Postings Below From Fellow Cruisers Are Listed in Chronological Order, Based on Publication Date
Sunshine Skyway Channel Daybeacon 16 destroyed
Twin Dolphin Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, sits perched on the southern shores of Manatee River, just short of the Highway 41 Business bridge. We get lots of praise for this fine marina and their commitment to facility upgrades, see FOCUS ON.
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers Net Marina Directory Listing For Twin Dolphin Marina
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Anna Maria Island is at the mouth of the Manatee River which is home to two longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSORS, Riviera Dunes Marina and Twin Dolphins Marina.
Anna Maria Island offers a taste of the simple life on Florida’s Gulf Coast
TravelWeekly.com
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One of our favorite islands along the west coast of FL… it is getting VERY POPULAR.
Hope it does not loose it's "old Florida" charm. Three different municipalities on the island.
Safety Harbor Marina is in the northwest corner of Old Tampa Bay, north of St. Petersburg and the Howard Franklin Bridge. Our thanks to Larry Pritchett for this alert.
Destroyed ATON G9 Safety Harbor Marina Channel
Day mark G9 in the Safety Harbor Marina Channel was destroyed by Storm ETA. Piling is below the water at high tide.
St. Pete is home to CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, a great liveaboard and transient marina located on the western shore of Tampa Bay in downtown St. Petersburg. See FOCUS ON for more on this great facility.
Meet Me in St. Pete: Your Weekend Guide
Flamingo Magazine
St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a great liveaboard and transient marina located on the western shore of Tampa Bay in downtown St. Petersburg.
A Dream Destination for Boaters – St Petersburg, Florida
Few other marinas are so ideally located in the center of their community’s many amenities as St. Petersburg Municipal Marina in the heart of the “Sunshine City” – St. Petersburg on Florida’s west coast.
Sunrise over St Peterburg’s Municipal Marina
Being called the Sunshine City is not just a chamber of commerce label. St. Petersburg holds the Guinness World Record for logging the most consecutive days of sunshine, a stretch that went for 768 days.
In today’s rapidly advancing times, it is not easy to manage growth and stay modern while honoring your significant historical origins.
Historic waterfront
Pyramid Pier on St Pete waterfront
St. Petersburg is one of our nation’s historic yet modern towns that knows how to embrace its natural amenities with culture, the arts, entertainment, exciting sports, bountiful parks, and recreational activities for everyone.
The Municipal Marina is in the heart of it all. So set your course for “St. Pete” and get ready to kick back, relax, and enjoy.
The proverbial red carpet will be rolled out for you in this sub-tropical slice of paradise.
The area is surrounded by 244 miles of shoreline bordering, not one, but three bodies of water: Tampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Calling it a boater’s paradise might be an understatement.
Ready to host you is St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, the largest city marina in the southeast with 640 wet slips.
And we mentioned parks, there are roughly 2,300 acres of public land around town, located in 137 parks for all to enjoy. Being berthed in the Municipal Marina puts you in the heart of the third largest urban waterfront park system all the USA and maybe North America.
Right out of a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting, there are places to relax, walk the pets, ride bikes, do some kayaking, or do “nothing at all” but just enjoy all the beautiful scenery.
If you are a sports fan, you are within easy walking distance to where the Tampa Bay Rowdies play professional soccer.
Or a short Uber ride to see professional baseball, Tampa Bay Rays
Then for all you sportscar racing fans, the annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg draws fans from around the world as they race through parts of the city course. 
The next race is March 13-15, 2020…that is THIS YEAR folks! Be quick mates!!
St Pete offers so much, it would take a book to list them all.
There are art galleries, museums, golf courses, theater… once you get your slip assignment and a little libation, take some time to research all that St Pete offers you. Here are a few links to various venues to enjoy.
Shopping? Well, the marina is on the cusp of great shopping and dining. Just look around and you will find them unfolding before your very eyes!!
Within a very short walk, you are among many waterfront shops, restaurants of all kinds from very casual to fine dining, world class hotels, buildings extolling beautiful Mediterranean-style architecture and meticulously manicured parks. It is all right around you. Make sure you plan to stay longer than a day and night, because if you don’t, you are going to have to come back very soon.
As mentioned earlier, St Petersburg Municipal Marina offers 640 wet slips ranging in size from 28 feet up to 100 feet. The location is Latitude 27N 46’ 12.36” and Longitude 82W37’47.38” on the point of Demens Landing Park.
Marina services offered at St. Petersburg Municipal Marina are listed in the Cruisers Net Marina Directory
Here are just a few of the many services: 500 ft Transient dock with minimum 10’ depths, mooring field and picnic areas, fuel, marina store well stocked to serve most of your needs.
No doubt by now, you know why this marina and city are an boater’s ideal port of call. Please share your own personal experiences with us here at Cruisers Net so that others may benefit from your visit. It is that ole Cruisers Helping Cruisers thing that built this service for all to use.
Wishing everyone blue skies, fair winds, gentle seas and fun times in St Petersburg, Florida.
Tell ‘em Cruisers Net sent you!
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© Cruisers Net February 2020
A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, Riviera Dunes Marina Resort occupies the Manatee River’s northern banks, just east of the easternmost of three bridges crossing the river at Bradenton and Palmetto near charted Craig Point.
A very nice, comfortable social deck located so that it is in a “for boaters only area.”
Riviera Dunes provides stable, wide concrete floating docks. They make it so easy to board, clean and move around your vessel. Plenty of room for dock carts being used and for a nice casual walk around the marina.
And the wide fairways provide a comfortable margin while entering or leaving your slip.
Need to stretch those muscles, get all the parts moving again without the pounding of the feet or knees, then you know there is nothing like a nice swim. Riviera Dunes Marina has two separate pools, one for families where kids are welcomed, and one for adults only. Both are heated for winter comfort. So, these pools are ready when you arrive, to provide you with a comfortable area for exercise and or pure relaxation.
Arrive hungry and take advantage of the onsite Dockside Social Bar and Grill. The name says it all. A local dining favorite, where you may enjoy views of the marina while dining inside or out in the open-air atmosphere.
St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a great liveaboard marina located on the western shore of Tampa Bay in downtown St. Pete. Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina, also A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR and voted Best Small Marina in 2017, overlooks the westerly banks of the Mantanzas Pass channel, west of marker #13. These good words for St. Pete Municipal Marina and Pink Shell Resort Marina are from Dan Sherburn as posted on AGLCA’s Forum.
I second the St Pete Municipal. Great marina and close to downtown. Great stop. I also enjoyed Pink Shell (Ft Myers) and Tarpon Point (resort like marina in Cape Coral).
Dan Sherburn
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Sadly, as Steve Ramsay bewails, what seemed unthinkable ten years ago is now a reality, not only in Florida, but along much of the east coast: free, public anchorages are becoming pay-for-use municipal mooring fields. (Enter “mooring” in the Search window above for a perspective on the battle that was waged against mooring fields in Florida several years back.) While welcomed by some who see the moorings as an alternative to ever rising dockage fees, those of us who boat on a budget and find the moorings restrictive, along with the prohibitive cost of boating in general, are in agreement with Steve, to the point that we can no longer afford to spend much, if any, time cruising. Steve is replying to A Disturbing Message about Anchoring.
Like so much of our culture today, it is a case of the “HAVEs” versus the “HAVE NOTs.” We hear you Steve!
I moved here from New England and as a boater since age 2, I am very disappointed with the availability of moorings here (Tampa area). Boating is such a healthy outdoor activity for the whole family. Go to New England, you will see boats on moorings as far as the eye can see, and they only have a 4 month season. I had planned on buying a 24 ft. sloop, but I am afraid I will have to abandon the idea altogether. Personally, at $400 per month for a mooring, I am forced to leave my favorite past time to a high end class of people who will continue to enjoy sailing as much as I did. I have been priced out. It seems like boating here is discouraged rather that encouraged and fully advocated for.
It seams to me that the big marinas are really controlling the cost of docking more so than ever, in St. Petersburg the safe harbor group will get control of the city docks soon, that means they have a monopoly controlling all the docks and moorings in St. Petersburg.
As for anchoring I don’t have any problems with this except that Most anchorage’s have bad boat that are in kept and in danger of abandonment also there is a problem with pumping out this is a federal regulation that is always over looked
Anchorage for transit moorings and dingy docks is a good idea for everyone at a minimum price if not totally free.
You are absolutely correct,Steve. I traveled in a trawler from North Carolina to Louisiana for many years and enjoyed the many towns and anchorages along the way. Not nearly as many anchorages as there used to be. And many more restrictions on the ones that are left. Florida, especially , seems to discourage boating. Especially transient boating. I got tired of the hassle and high cost of marinas, moorings, and dockage and got out of boating. It’s not affordable for the average pocketbook anymore. It’s just one more thing that belongs to the people with a lot of money. The middle class will soon be no more.
My opinion,
Jerry
As confirmation of our earlier posting, Red Tide Spreads Along Gulf Coast, this onsite report of the discomforts of being in the vicinity of red tide comes from our friend, Jeffrey Guttenberger, as posted on AGLCA’s Forum.
We decided in early July to stay in SWFL and cruise her for the summer, then start the loop in March, 2019. As it turns out, that wasn’t a good plan.
The fresh waters down here are filled with green/blue algae and the coastal waters all have red tide. We can’t be on the boat because we’re both coughing and sneezing.
The water down here (Ft. Myers area) is not good.
Jeffrey and Cathy Guttenberger
This report from NBC is important and worth reading! See also Lake Okeechobee Discharge and Red Tide – Can anything be Done?
Toxic red tide is making Floridians sick — and angry
Red tides in the Gulf of Mexico and toxic blue-green algae in inland waters are killing animals and stoking outrage in South Florida.
by James Rainey / Aug.03.2018 / 3:13 PM ET
Red tide, and the fish it kills, slam into Anna Maria Island
Bradenton Herald
Murky brown waves quietly washed dead fish onto empty Anna Maria Island beaches on Monday. Waters in both the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay …
Sarasota grapples with red tide’s effects from YourObserver.com
Sarasota beaches were inundated with the unpleasant sights and smells associated with red tide this weekend. How does the community deal with the fallout?
267 tons of dead fish collected from Sanibel alone. We wanted to put that number in perspective. More details >> https://on.fox4now.com/2M8J23p
Twin Dolphin Marina, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, sits perched on the southern shores of Manatee River, just short of the Highway 41 Business bridge. We get lots of praise, like these good words from AGLCA member Kathy Anderson, for this fine marina and their commitment to facility upgrades, see FOCUS ON.
Twin Dolphins marina in Bradenton is in our top 5 marinas from our western 1/2 loop in 2014. Close to downtown which has a Saturday market, and it has a lovely restaurant onsite. It also abuts the river walk which is great for walkers and runners. Plus they have fun Christmas decorations and not far from Siesta Key/Sarasota (except for seasonal traffic). They have a pool, as well as the usual amenities. When we visited on our land vacation this past winter they were making some improvements to some of the docks.
Kathy Anderson
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Twin Dolphin Marina, A CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, sits perched on the southern shores of Manatee River, just short of the Highway 41 Business bridge. We get lots of praise for this fine marina and their year-round community involvement.
TWIN DOLPHIN MARINA Making Improvements For Boaters’ Enjoyment
It is encouraging when we see destination marinas investing in the comfort and enjoyment of liveaboards and visiting cruisers alike.
Speeler & Associates, Inc., removed the older docks at Twin Dolphin Marina and then Gator Dredging did the dredging inside the marina basin.
Twin Dolphin Marina is located about five miles east of Tampa Bay up the Manatee River in the heart of Bradenton, Florida. The marina is in the final stages of making investments in its facilities to enhance its role in serving boaters and the community as Bradenton’s “anchor marina.” It is ideally located within very short walking distance to the historical area, great restaurants, the South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium, Village of the Arts, and area shopping. Twin Dolphin Marina is at the western edge of Bradenton’s beautiful Riverwalk with its amphitheater, all adding to a visitors enjoyment. Want to get off your boat for a few days and be just across the street from your vessel, a new hotel is going up close by that will provide additional rooms for visitors coming by land or sea.
East Basin where new docks are being installed.
The marina basin is divided by the historic Memorial Pier, where the popular and on-site PIER-22 restaurant is located. The marina offers 225 slips with floating docks. In order to serve current customers, the marina management is doing the renovations in specific sections to keep disruptions to a minimum. The improvement efforts currently underway involve replacing 144 older slips with new aluminum docks and durable composite non-corrosive decking. The reconfigured east basin will be able to host larger vessels as they will be increasing several slip sizes up to 110 feet. Additionally, modern electrical service for 30, 50, and 100 amps will be in place along with slip pump-outs, potable water and fire suppression protection.
For sure, Twin Dolphin Marina is one of those marinas with the facilities to offer their customers a full experience while visiting for a few days, several weeks, or making it their home-port.
As Marina Manager, Cynthia Belfatto, says, “We are so proud of how these improvements will serve our guests and full time residents who enjoy our resort life-style amenities, on-site award winning restaurant, marina pool and captain’s lounge, and beautiful setting along the Manatee River.”
Whatever criteria you use in choosing ports to visit, Twin Dolphin Marina most likely meets them all and is one destination port-of-call you will want to include in your cruise plans.
PHOTO GALLERY – Click image to enlarge
View of PIER 22 restaurant across the east basin where new docks are being installed
Floating dock posts installation
Wave attenuation barrier protects the marina
Street Entrance to Twin Dolphin Marina
Entrance to Pier 22 and West Basin of Marina
Canopied entrance to PIER 22.
Museum Expansion
Street entrance to South Florida Museum with Planetarium and Aquarium
Manatee Riverwalk goes right by Twin Dolphin Marina
Statue on Manatee Riverwalk
Manatee Riverwalk
Manatee Riverwalk
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If you are in the Bradenton area and have need of canvas repairs, here is a company that can be trusted to do the job correctly.
We first used Gulf Coast Canvas back around 2008 and they have done all our canvas work ever since. This past week, we needed to have some of our favorite boat and beach chairs repaired and Tom and Sue took them in and did an absolutely perfect job. If anyone is in the Sarasota, Bradenton area and in need of canvas replacement, repair, re-stitch, or even embroidery work, then we highly recommend Gulf Coast Canvas. Call and leave a message and Sue will always get in touch with you. Their work is highly regarded, five star quality.
Always good to find marine businesses that care about and know about our needs as boaters.
Thanks to Tom and Sue Helmig.- owners of Gulf Coast Canvas, Bradenton, FL Tele: 941-752-9980
First Mate Sue
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St. Petersburg Municipal Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, is a great liveaboard marina located on the western shore of Tampa Bay in downtown St. Petersburg.
Overall a nice place to stay. Doug the master is enthusiastic and helpful. Tied up along a T/A Pier. A couple of places are roped off.
Marina only accepts reservations via Dockwa. No phone reservations accepted.
Bob McKane
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Twin Dolphin Marina, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, sits perched on the southern shores of Manatee River, just short of the Highway 41 Business bridge. We get lots of praise for this fine marina and their fund raising celebration for youth sailing is typical of the level of community involvement Twin Dolphin Marina exhibits all year long.
Hello Larry. You probably well know that National Marina Days celebrations are going on now right now. What you may not realize is this: the Twin Dolphin Marina recently hosted a wonderful event that inspired new and seasoned boaters and brought in enough money to send two children to sailing school.
National Marina Days Celebration at Twin Dolphin Raises Money for Youth Sailing
Twin Dolphin Marina Day Barbecue emphasizes a summer of giving and celebrates boating and on the water fun!
As part of a nationwide observance, members of the Bradenton area yachting community joined together for a National Marina Days: Summer Of Giving event Saturday at the Twin Dolphin Marina. The event included several raffle drawings to raise funds for the Manatee River Pram Fleet, a non-profit educational organization, dedicated to supporting and promoting the sport of sailing for the youth of Manatee County. Through raffle ticket sales, sponsorships and donations, the Twin Dolphin Marina staff, their members and guests raised the money needed to pay tuition dues in full for two youth sailing scholarships.
Lisa Fath, Sailing Director for MRPF, said, “Time on the water is always a learning lesson. The Manatee River Pram Fleet teaches kids safety and sailing. We believe a kid on the water is a kid out of trouble!” Fath also thanked the Twin Dolphin Marina staff for hosting the event and for giving the gift of boating to a pair of young sailors.
The raffles incorporated fourteen different prizes with nautical themes including marine products and services provided by Freundship Marine Inc., Go Rentals, Nicholson Marine Services, Riverwalk Yacht Sales, Subsurface Inc., PIER 22 Restaurant, and the Twin Dolphin Marina. It was a spirited event, which included party games and barbecue provided courtesy of PIER 22 Special Events & Catering. Some first-time visitors to the Twin Dolphin Marina accepted tours of the 225 wet slip facility and others received vessel safety checks compliments of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Cynthia Belfatto, Harbor Master for the Twin Dolphin Marina, called the event a great success. She went on to say “National Marina Days is a wonderful way to promote boating as a family-friendly leisure activity and a terrific opportunity to remind locals and visitors that Twin Dolphin is the premier resort marina on Florida’s Gulf Coast.”
About Twin Dolphin Marina
The Twin Dolphin Marina, located on the picturesque waters of the Manatee River, offers easy access to Tampa Bay and Florida’s Gulf Islands. Lending to its charm, both on the water fun and nearby land attractions are plentiful and include such activities as family-friendly entertainment along the Riverwalk, downtown Bradenton nightlife, performances by the Manatee Players and ongoing exhibits at the South Florida Museum.
Located only 25 minutes from SRQ Airport and in a protected walled harbor, the Twin Dolphin Marina includes 225 wet slips available for long and short-term stays. Members and visitors alike enjoy resort-style amenities, luxury liveaboard facilities, and award-winning waterfront dining at the PIER 22 restaurant. Other conveniences include a heated pool and spa, barbecue facilities, complimentary WIFI and cable television, an onsite business center and fax services, fuel dock, laundry facilities, and pump-out at slip.
Docking with Twin Dolphin Marina includes more than great views and high-end accommodations. It’s the friendly and knowledgeable team members that make the difference. Always ready with a smile and continuously working to exceed expectations, Twin Dolphin Marina management and staff provide a memorable riverside experience. For more information, please visit https://www.twindolphinmarina.com
About The Manatee River Pram Fleet
The Pram Fleet has a long and rich history in Manatee County going back to the early 1950’s. The fleet is a non-profit educational organization, which relies on donations to continue its programs. The Manatee River Pram Fleet is dedicated to supporting and promoting the sport of sailing for the youth of Manatee County including teaching sportsmanship, responsibility, self-reliance, respect for authority and equipment and the marine environment; while providing an atmosphere of good fellowship.
Best regards,
Tabatha Davis
PIER 22
Director of Marketing
941.748.3433 x109
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For those of you who still think “not in my backyard!” This epidemic of drugs is so commonplace that it is now genrally ignored.
News Release
May 3, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay
(305) 965-4672
Coast Guard offloads $56 million of cocaine in St. Petersburg
Crew members from Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon, an 87-foot Coast Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida, offload 1,735 kilograms of cocaine, an estimated wholesale value of $56 million and transfer custody of eight suspected drug smugglers Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida. The contraband and suspected smugglers were interdicted during four separate cases supporting Operation Martillo, a joint interagency and multi-national collaborative effort among 14 Western Hemisphere and European nations to stop the flow of illicit cargo by Transnational Criminal Organizations. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse)
Crew members from Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon, an 87-foot Coast Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida, offload 1,735 kilograms of cocaine, an estimated wholesale value of $56 million and transfer custody of eight suspected drug smugglers Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida. The contraband and suspected smugglers were interdicted during four separate cases supporting Operation Martillo, a joint interagency and multi-national collaborative effort among 14 Western Hemisphere and European nations to stop the flow of illicit cargo by Transnational Criminal Organizations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse) Crew members from Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon, an 87-foot Coast Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida, offload 1,735 kilograms of cocaine, an estimated wholesale value of $56 million and transfer custody of eight suspected drug smugglers Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida. The contraband and suspected smugglers were interdicted during four separate cases supporting Operation Martillo, a joint interagency and multi-national collaborative effort among 14 Western Hemisphere and European nations to stop the flow of illicit cargo by Transnational Criminal Organizations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Fireman Kelly Clark) More than 3,825 pounds of cocaine await transfer to federal agents Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida. The contraband was interdicted during four separate cases supporting Operation Martillo, a joint interagency and multi-national collaborative effort among 14 Western Hemisphere and European nations to stop the flow of illicit cargo by Transnational Criminal Organizations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse)
More than 3,825 pounds of cocaine await transfer to federal agents Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida. The contraband was interdicted during four separate cases supporting Operation Martillo, a joint interagency and multi-national collaborative effort among 14 Western Hemisphere and European nations to stop the flow of illicit cargo by Transnational Criminal Organizations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse) link to photo Crew members from Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon, an 87-foot Coast Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida, offload 1,735 kilograms of cocaine, an estimated wholesale value of $56 million, and transfer custody of eight suspected drug smugglers to partner federal agencies Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida. The contraband and suspected smugglers were interdicted during four separate cases supporting Operation Martillo, a joint interagency and multi-national collaborative effort among 14 Western Hemisphere and European nations to stop the flow of illicit cargo by Transnational Criminal Organizations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael De Nyse)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tarpon offloaded approximately 1,735 kilograms of cocaine Wednesday worth an estimated wholesale value of $56 million and transferred custody of eight suspected drug smugglers at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg.
The contraband and detainees were seized April 12 through April 21 during four separate interdictions by Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Teams (LEDET) aboard several Coast Guard, foreign coalition and partner agency boats in coastal waters along the Central American coastline in support of Operation Martillo.
The most noteworthy and fruitful interdiction took place April 19 when Coast Guard LEDET personnel embarked on the USS Zephyr (PC 8), a U.S. Navy Cyclone-class patrol coastal ship home ported in Mayport, and coalition forces intercepted 750 kilograms of contraband and five suspected drug smugglers while on patrol in international waters 120 miles south west Mona Island, Puerto Rico.
The Zephyr, along with the Karel Doorman-class multi-purpose frigate HNLMS Van Amstel of the Royal Netherlands Navy, pursued and Coast Guard LEDET boarded a small panga fishing boat in the Caribbean Sea. The crews found and confiscated 750 kilograms of cocaine, a wholesale value of $22.5 million, and detained the five suspected drug smugglers.
“Over all, this offload represents our recent success in securing our borders and preventing illegal, regionally destabilizing narcotics from reaching our streets,” said Cmdr. Willy Carmichael, assistant branch chief of Coast Guard 7th District Response Enforcement. “It is truly an interagency and international effort that directly supports the commandant’s Western Hemisphere strategy.”
The contraband and detainees were transferred and offloaded by the crew of the Cutter Tarpon, an 87-foot Coastal Patrol Boat homeported in St. Petersburg.
These interdictions were part of Operation Martillo, which is one component in the United States government’s whole-of-government approach to countering the use of the Central American littorals as transshipment routes for illicit drugs, weapons and cash. Martillo is an international operation focused on sharing information and bringing together air, land and maritime assets from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, as well as Western Hemisphere and European partner nation agencies, to counter illicit trafficking.
In the five years since its 2012 launch, Martillo has supported the seizure of approximately 693 metric tons of cocaine, $25 million in bulk cash, 581 vessels and aircraft and the arrest of 1,863 detainees, according to the U.S. Southern Command.
For breaking news, follow us on Twitter @uscgsoutheast.
-USCG-
.Route suggestions are requested from a fellow trawler. Palmetto is on the north shore of the Manatee River opposite Bradenton. Fort Myers is south at the western terminus of the Okeechoebee Waterway. Local knowledge anyone?
With our Grand Banks 46, what is the fastest way from Palmetto to Ft. Meyers?
Tom van Straaten
Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. I’nm new at this (took delivery of the GB on March 24 and left Palmetto at 2 PM). Due to AA 3 hr. delay, crew didn’t arrive on time (doe they ever?). We went outside and spend the night at Boca Grande (only ran aground once trying to anchor). Left at early light through locks and beautiful canals and got to Roland Martin Marina (funky, fun and very tough alligator bits to eat).
Started out in dark to Lake Okeechobee and crossed easily in light winds. From Stuart went inside to spend night in Palm Beach. Last day went outside, arriving in Miami at noon.
A wonderful experience in a new boat (for me as a former sailor).
I want to reverse the traverse in the future with no time table, proceeding south from Ft. Meyers around the Keys to Miami.
Thank you again for your thoughtful replies to my inquiry.
Thank you all for your comment
I have done this with our (stabilized) 46 GB several times.
You don’t indicate in your post whether this is a pleasure run which would allow for a few days or just a trip to get from point A to point B.
If you are trying to make some time, the inside route is pure torture, albeit pleasant torture. Between narrow channels and multiple bridges and no wake zones, you will be hard pressed to make it to Boca Grande in one day, although it can be done. But it won’t be fun. ]
Far better to take 2-3 days to get to Boca Grande, anchoring in Pelican Bay, and relaxing as you traverse Pine Island Sound on the last day to get to Ft. Meyers.
If you go on the outside, it will be one very long day, but if you have a fast 46, you can make it. If you have 135 Fords, forget it.
Phil
A note of caution, if you come in Boca Grande Pass keep in mind the entrance is approximately three miles off shore due to shallow water on the north side of the pass.
I sailed up and down that stretch in January and would suggest avoiding Sarasota’s Big Pass inlet. I found it difficult to get accurate information on shoaling and conflicting reliability of changing marker locations. If you can stay offshore past Sarasota do it. Long boat pass is good.
Yes, fastest on the outside but much nicer inside. Stay at Marina Jack in Sarasota and Boca Grande on the way down.
This is not an easy question to answer. I have driven many Grand Banks and am assuming your average cruising speed to be 10kts. Also I lived on the Manatee River for 10 years so have made the trip you are asking about often.
If your desire is to get there as fast as possible you should go outside but you must be willing to do a long, long day or 2. Go out Long Boat Pass which has recently been dredged and go in either at Boca Grande Pass or San Carlos. This route takes you out of your way because of shallow areas but you avoid bridges and minimum wake zones.
If you are doing this for pleasure, it is my opinion you should go inside and plan for 3 days. Stay in Venice at Marker 4, then anchor in Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa, just south of Boca Grande Pass or Stay at Cabbage Key. Then on to Downtown Ft Myers. If you have more questions you can contact me at dana@captdana.com
Tom,
Weather permitting, offshore from Tampa Bay to Boca Grande, then inside on the GICW to Fort Myers.
News Release
March 16, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay
24/hour duty: (305) 965-4672
Coast Guard suspends search for 2 missing near Pass-a-Grille
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The Coast Guard suspended their search Thursday at 7:41 p.m. for two men missing near the Pass-a-Grille channel entrance since Tuesday.
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watch standers received a report Tuesday at 6:10 p.m. from the captain of the Jaguar, a 71-foot yacht, stating Andrew Dillman, 27, from New York, and Jie Luo, 21, from China, were missing from the boat.
Fifteen college students chartered the yacht for the day. When the yacht anchored at Shell Key, five students, including Luo, reportedly jumped from the boat to swim. The current pulled the students from the boat, and all but Luo were able to make it back to the boat. Dillman, a crew member aboard the yacht, jumped in to rescue Luo and was also separated from the boat.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Jie Luo and Andrew Dillman,” said Capt. Holly Najarian, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg commander. “Suspending a search is the most difficult decision I have to make in my position, and despite our best efforts, we were unable to reunite Andrew and Jie with their families.”
Crews from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission conducted 39 searches totaling 80 aircraft and surface hours and covering more than 1,577 square miles – an area larger than the state of Rhode Island.
The incident is currently under investigation.
March 15, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay
Office: (727) 535-1437 ext. 2143
After Hours: (305) 965-4672
Coast Guard continues search for 2 missing near Pass-a-Grille
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The Coast Guard and partner agencies continue their search for two males missing near the Pass-a-Grille channel entrance.
Missing are Andrew Dillman, 27 from New York, and Jie Lou, 21 from China.
Coast Guard crews and partner agencies have conducted 22 searches over 419 square
miles.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Andrew and Jie during this difficult time,” said Lt. Jason Holstead, the command duty officer at Sector St. Petersburg. “We continue work closely with our partners to search for Andrew and Jie; all of us have them and their family in our thoughts and prayers.”
At 6:10 p.m. Tuesday Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watch standers received a report from the captain of the 71-foot yacht, Jaguar, stating two males were missing from the boat.
Fifteen college students chartered the yacht for the day. When the yacht anchored at Shell Key, five students, including Lou, jumped from the boat to swim. The current pulled the students away from the boat, and all but Lou were able to make it back to the boat. Dillman, a crew member aboard the yacht, jumped in to rescue Lou, and was also swept away.
Crews from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Station St. Petersburg, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are actively searching for the missing men.
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