SAILS UP!
3/19/2008 10:28:33 AM by Jonathan Waters
From internationally ranked pro racers to cruising couples and children on their first boat, the sails are up and catching the wind on Tampa Bay.
Photos courtesy of Visit Tampa Bay
Whether daysailing on the Bay or cruising in the Gulf, the year-round mild temperatures and normally favorable wind conditions have attracted sailors to the Tampa Bay area from around the globe for centuries.
On a more relaxed note, Tampa Bay offers a wide selection of beautiful spots for anchoring and spending the night on the hook or just cruising past. Snorkeling opportunities are plentiful, as are sightings of your friendly neighborhood dolphins that often approach boats to see what’s going on. There’s also a healthy choice of deep-draft marinas and marina/resorts for those coming in from other waters or residents who wish to spend a night away from their homeport.
Tampa Bay and its surrounding waters have a respected history when it comes to sailing dating back to the days of pirates. More recently, two stellar names in sailboat design, Charlie Morgan and Ted Irwin, helped Tampa turn a new corner in sailboat history. Both worked hard to expand the sailing scene in the Bay area starting in the 1960s and working diligently through the 1970s to establish such classic events as the Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC), which brought internationally ranked sailors, and the attention of the world, to South Florida.
So it is no surprise to learn that some of the top sailing schools in the world congregate on Florida’s West Coast. The Annapolis teaches their popular “Become a Sailor in One Weekend” course for those with prior boating or sailing experience as well as the full gamut of sailing and navigating programs. Nearby, the International Sailing School offers American Sailing Association (ASA) Certification courses, private lessons and non-certification sail training.
Steve and Doris Colgate chose Tampa for one of the four locations of their renowned Offshore Sailing School. “It takes you away,” says Doris, a Fort Myers resident, about sailing the West Coast of Florida. “It is one of the most wonderful lifetime activities. Let the wind drive where you’re going, instead of a noisy engine. The sense of freedom, just getting away, it’s worth it, even for only an hour. It’s a very refreshing thing and our school offers eight- to nine-day courses...some people make a vacation out of it!”
Speaking of vacations, some of the local bareboat charter companies boast a sailing school as well. And then there are the youth sailing programs at locations such as the historic St. Petersburg Yacht Club (SPYC) on the Bay in downtown St. Pete. Founded in 1909, it has the distinction of being one of the oldest yacht clubs in the country. The private facility was completely updated in the early 1990s and continues its rich tradition of world-class sailing, racing and bringing young sailors into the sport. “Over the course of a year, junior sailors from the club have won every individual and team title on the North American continent, not just once but time and time again,” says a proud member. “Our kids have raced Optimist Dinghys and other small boats around the world.” Denmark, Turkey, Yugoslavia, France, Thailand, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Spain and Holland are just some of the places they’ve been. “Sailing Tampa waters most definitely gave them all a great start,” he says. The SPYC is also well known for their fine dining and superior social events.
On the other end of the yacht club spectrum is the ultra-casual (when it comes to dress code and dining menu), but very serious (when it comes to sailing), Davis Island Yacht Club. This member-owned facility calls itself the “Sailingest Club in The South.” According to the club’s mission statement: The principal purpose of the Club shall be to promote sailing in all its forms without breaking its laid-back stride. One of the clubs more popular events are the Thursday evening “Beer Can Races,” a top local sailing series in the south.
What’s more, every January, the entire city comes to a halt for the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival. The event is highlighted by an “invasion” by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and their 165-foot pirate ship, The Jose Gaspar, into Tampa Bay, followed by a spectator fleet of hundreds of enthusiastic sail and powerboats.
In November, Sail America’s Strictly Sail St. Petersburg arrives to much fanfare with a large display of sailboats, trawlers and power cats, and two giant tents filled with cool accessories and gear. Seminars run throughout the extravaganza and participants are encouraged to get out on the water with the Discover Sailing Program. For a listing of sailing-related events including international regattas and competitions, go to VisitTampaBay.com.
Whether you own your own sailboat, are looking to vacation on a bareboat charter, want your children to learn to sail, or are looking for some racing fun with a few of your closest friends, take advantage of Tampa Bay’s stellar waters, great places to drop anchor and overall ability to allow you to get away from it all. You could also always just cruise to a waterfront restaurant with friends. So hoist the sails and explore Florida’s West Coast the way it’s been done for centuries. You’ll find that you’re able to get closer to the local wildlife without the sound of a motor propelling you.